 |
 |
 |
faculty students alumni courses major/minor requirements internships study abroad newsletters/journals
Environmental Studies Department |
|
The Mac Weekly - April 20, 2007 Mac Boasts Authors of Green Guide By Emma Gallegos, News Editor Last week, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) published this guide entitled "Creating a Campus Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund." Diebolt said that he plans on distributing the guides to those interested in creating similar funds at their own schools or as he puts it, finding "sustainable money for sustainable projects." "Our hope is that it will get more students involved across the country." Diebolt said. He said that already their guide has been distributed through student activist blogs and newsletters. Copies have also been made for administrators, staff, and faculty who have been working with CERF, including President Brian Rosenberg, treasurer David Wheaton and Facilities Management director Mark Dickinson. In their preface, they wrote that the motivation for funds like CERF is "the idea of funding environmental projects through the savings that they generate." The guide includes Macalester's CERF charter, covenant, and financing plan. Julian Doutrement, an editor at AASHE, also included a section about how other schools have created revolving loan funds for sustainability efforts. At Macalester, CERF has been used to fund many of the latest environmental initiatives such as converting Café Mac's used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel and purchasing an off-campus wind turbine. Diebolt said that while Macalester is not the only school to have a revolving fund for sustainability projects - Harvard University is a notable standout - Macalester's fund is unique in that it was started by student efforts and that students are ensured representation on the board that controls the fund. Diebolt said that funds that are not so student-driven not only miss out on an opportunity to incorporate student perspectives but also on a valuable educational opportunity. "Our guide is specifically targeted to help students at other campuses establish revolving loan funds that include substantial student involvement." Den Herder-Thomas said, in a press release created by AASHE. The guide can be downloaded as a PDF at www.aashe.org/resources/pdf/CERF.pdf. |
|
|