From Al Gore to gas prices, the nation is abuzz with environmental issues. But Auburn students don’t have to look far for ways to affect the world. With two student organizations, a campus recycling program and the Sustainability Initiative, students have several options to participate in the movement to affect the environment.
Auburn’s Sustainability Initiative serves as a campus leader for education about sustainability. The program, established in 2004, also provides programs and services to promote sustainable practices.
The Sustainability Initiative is bringing the national environmental movement to campus through participating in Focus the Nation, a national campaign at educational institutions and civic organizations aimed at raising awareness and starting discussions about global warming and solutions.
“The hope is that once we’ve had this campaign, people will keep talking about it – what are we going to do about it instead of does this exist,” said Lindy Biggs, director of the Sustainability Initiative.
The campaign on campus has included several speakers and discussions. The campaign will end with a day full of activities and discussions regarding global warming on Jan. 31, in the midst of presidential primary elections.
“Regardless of what party, somebody is going to have to talk about it,” said Matthew Williams, projects manager with Sustainability Initiative. “It’s an issue that’s out there.”
The Sustainability Initiative has also created programs that hit closer to home, such as Green Lunches, which began this semester. The brown bag lunches are held the second and fourth Mondays of the month, and each lunch features a campus speaker who discusses sustainability.
Other projects include the Haley Green Roof, Lug-a-Mug and Auburn Clean Streams, all of which are detailed on the Sustainability Initiative Web site.
The Sustainability Initiative has also encouraged faculty to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum through the Fall Line Project. Each spring, a workshop is held for interested faculty to discuss ways to put environmental issues into the curriculum, regardless of discipline.
A minor in sustainability is also being developed.
“These are the careers of the future,” Biggs said.
AU Recycling
A recycling program that began at office desks has grown to include recycling in several areas across campus. Faculty and staff can recycle paper at their desks in offices, while students on campus can participate in residential recycling. The entire Auburn community can help out during Gameday recycling by finding the recycle bins near their tailgate spot.
“For me, one of the main goals is to get the campus community thinking twice about what they’re throwing away,” said Donny Addison, solid waste and recycling coordinator.
Not only will recycling help the environment, but it saves the University money as well.
“What’s collected as recycling reduces disposal costs of the landfill,” Addison said.
With the help of Clay McInnis, SGA liaison to environmental awareness, three fraternities began recycling at their houses this fall.
While the program has expanded since its inception, Addison wants to see it expand more.
“I think it’s still a small number of people, and the amount of bins is no where near it should be,” Addison said.
Additional bins will also make the program more visible and more convenient, which will increase participation.
“People will participate as it becomes more and more convenient,” Addison said.
Organizations
The push for change on campus hasn’t come just from faculty and staff. Students have formed two organizations to help. With approximately 50 members, the Environmental Awareness Organization (EAO) promotes education about environmental issues through several projects, including a compact fluorescent light bulb sale and a benefit concert.
“I just don’t think many Auburn students are eco-friendly,” said Rachael Werner, president of EAO. “They just don’t know any better.”
Werner hopes her organization can change that. EAO, which is open to all students, meets every other Thursday evening.
A new organization, the Auburn Sustainability Action Program (ASAP), has been given a probationary charter by SGA (double check this with Mallory after Monday Senate). Biggs said the organization will help with Sustainability Initiative projects.
Future Success
The leaders in the campus movement have big plans for the future. Williams said plans are underway for a bike shop in the new student union.
“The idea is to have something that expands the bike community,” Williams said. “We want to set it up so people who want to learn how to fix their bike can do so.”
Biggs said in the long-run, the campus has the potential for several sustainable projects – from all electric vehicles on campus to reducing the campus energy use by 50 percent.
For any project to work, however, the program needs student participation.
“This is our thing,” McInnis said. “This is what we can latch onto and change.”
Biggs said one of the problems is people think helping the environment is inconvenient.
“We’ve grown pretty darn lazy,” Biggs said. “Why is it so inconvenient? If you’re going out anyways, why not make a detour to drop off your recycling? What are you losing to take an extra few minutes?”
Werner said another problem is the attitude that one person can’t make a difference.
“People think ‘I’m just one person,’ but if everybody thinks like that, nothing gets done,” Werner said.
Addison agreed.
“When you start thinking about the large-scale effect, it’s phenomenal,” he said, “but it doesn’t happen on a large scale until the individual person makes a decision about their life.”
Those involved in the campus movement hope this decision leads them to participate in a campus program.
“There’s so many ways to get involved,” Werner said. “It’s easier to get involved than most people know.”
