Although green may be half of the Tribe’s identity, the College has a long road ahead before achieving official “green” status as an environmentally-conscientious campus.
A movement is under way to form a new office specifically designed to implement environmentally safe initiatives. This new Office of Sustainability is currently in proposal form, awaiting a showing before the Board of Visitors.
According to greeningwm.com, a website created by members of the College with the intent of educating the campus in sustainability efforts, “A sustainable campus can have a positive impact upon the environment by reducing resource consumption, energy use and solid waste, and it can directly affect society by educating students and community members about environmental issues.”
Professor Maria Ivanova, a strong advocate for an Office of Sustainability, said that the functions of this new office would have three areas of initiation: academics, facilities and leadership.
The proposal for this office states that the academic aspect focuses on integrating sustainability courses into the curriculum, either as a main extension of the Environmental Studies department or dispersal throughout all academic departments. The latter proposal would require a “sustainability proficiency requirement” for all students that can be met with specific courses implementing the principles of sustainability.
The Office of Sustainability would also include internships as a means of educating, guiding and involving interested students on campus.
With regards to facilities, the Office of Sustainability would institute programs designed for an eco-friendly campus, such as regulating waste, energy and water use. The Office would also be directly involved in new building projects, ensuring affordable and environmentally friendly construction practices.
In the realm of leadership, the Office of Sustainability intends to reach out to the campus community, working closely with both student and community-run environmental organizations to raise sustainability awareness.
Furthermore, it would exist as an educated source for policymakers, aiding them in creating and achieving sustainability policies.
The College’s pursuit in Sustainability efforts is not unprecedented.
“We joined a movement already in existence,” said Ivanova. “This is not something new. It has been around since the ‘90s in various other universities.”
Harvard University, Tufts University, Middlebury College and, more recently, Yale University are a brief sampling of the schools that have all jumped on the sustainability bandwagon.
The College’s battle for sustainability, however, is still a recent effort; it began evolving only a few years ago. Ivanova, who has been involved “since day one,” is currently finishing her third year as a member of the faculty of the College.
With regards to the College’s budget, supporters of the sustainability cause have also considered the source of funding for this proposed office.
Tyler Koontz ('09) spoke of “Green Fees,” money that would be attached to the general fees included in each student’s tuition. While there is already a fixed amount, the proposed addition ranges from $10-$30 per student, which would generate an income of up to $225,000 for sustainability efforts.
In comparison with the bulk of the general fees inserted into tuition, the Green Fees have very little impact on the overall tuition cost.
“You pay $576 each year for sports and $30 for the bus system,” Koontz said. “I bet you didn’t know that.”
Other proposed sources for funding include alumni gifts and grants as well as allocations from the President and the general funds.
Koontz said that a survey was recently distributed requesting feedback on the College’s sustainability efforts and Green Fees. A randomly assigned number of students received the poll.
The proposal for the new Office, although completed, has yet to be presented to the College’s hierarchy and the Board of Visitors. Ivanova, however, said that the former President Nichol was both open to and interested in the plan.
There is no near resolution for an Office of Sustainability. Ivanova said that the office will, most likely, be pushed aside until the College’s next permanent president arrives. “With the current crisis, there is no one at the helm,” she said.
It is also too soon for supporters to bat around possible candidates for the position of Sustainability Director, the supervisor of all sustainability programs on campus.
“It’s just too early to tell,” said Ivanova.
For more information on the College’s Sustainability efforts, including the finished proposal for the Office of Sustainability, visit www.greeningwm.com.