Just one of the many goals of the Student Environmental Alliance (SEA) is making WC a green campus. Having a green campus means being environmentally responsible while encouraging students to be aware of environmental issues.
"Considering WC is near the Chesapeake Bay, this should be an important issue when the state of the Bay is considered," said senior Rob Savidge, president of the SEA and chairman of the SGA's Green Campus committee.
"Imagine all the good that WC could do for the Chesapeake Bay if we were to become green."
"Having a green campus really is a pro in and of itself. It means less waste on campus while doing something good for our surrounding environment," said junior Melissa Farmer, the SEA's secretary.
"The main con is the fact of how hard it will be to truly increase student interest as well as the college administration interest," Farmer continued.
Luckily, the SGA had already expressed an interest in a green campus.
An article has been proposed and approved in the SGA expressing the concerns of the club."We proposed the article to the SGA because this campus needs to become more environmentally aware and concerned," said Farmer. "The legislation is important and it was already passed last semester, proving that students at least want to make an effort in the right direction."
Other schools have instituted legislation and contracts to curb irresponsible waste. SEA and the SGA are working together to create similar plans here.
"I decided the SGA and the entire campus needed to start thinking more about the environment," said Savidge. "So I brainstormed ... and came up with a green campus article for the SGA platform. They thought it was past due, so it got accepted quite easily."
Savidge added, "The creation of the Environmental Studies major was a great first step, the creation of the Center for the Environment and Society was a great second step, now the next step is to change the entire atmosphere here at WC. That involves a commitment made by the president, and the college as a whole."
The SEA wants the campus to engage in "environmentally sound practices ... to whatever extent we want.
"This could include recycling, energy saving practices, organic methods of groundskeeping, or any number of other activities," said junior Melissa Downs, the SEA's treasurer.
"It might seem hard in the beginning, but eventually the returns are much more beneficial," said Farmer. "I just feel that currently, students don't give enough time to the campus environment around us."
Farmer added, "Some people aren't aware of any issue around the campus or the community, and all we want to do is increase that awareness."
"I think the situation on campus could definitely be better, but I have noticed several improvements recently such as the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs in Goldstein which last longer and save energy," said Farmer.
A few suggestions for the campus are: "paper recycling in the dorms and in all buildings, a food waste recycling program, an end to paper and styrofoam use in the dining hall, environmental awareness and activism programs on campus with the support of administration," said sophomore Ian May.
He went on to say, "[The campus should] use organic pesticides and herbicides on greens, or even issue a warning to students as many areas are sprayed in the summer when windows are open and students can be adversely affected."
"Having a green campus is important in our relationship to the world around us - in order to preserve the resources in our area. It's also important to set an example for society," said Downs.
"If a microcosm of society like our campus can implement environmentally sound methods of operation, then there's hope for the rest of the world too!"
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