2008 Woodie Awards
Saint Mary's to be red, blue, and green?
Students, staff push for environmental sustainability
J. Harry Painter
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: News
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New students have had an early taste of what looks to become a well-promoted initiative throughout the year. Various administrators, college officials, and students are working together to push for environmental sustainability and awareness at Saint Mary's.
As part of this action, incoming freshman were asked to read two documents related to global climate change over the summer, which could be found online at sustainsmc.stmarys-ca.edu. One document was a summer report of findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; the other was a statement by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
According to the Dean for the School of Liberal Arts Stephen Woolpert, it is important for people to understand environmental issues from not only a scientific perspective, but a moral one. In his presentation to new students on Saturday, he quoted Pope John Paul II to encourage this understanding: "Christians and all other believers have a specific role to play in educating people in ecological awareness."
Returning students and college employees have also undoubtedly noticed the measures taken in promoting campus sustainability. The number of recycling containers across campus have increased since last term.
Senior Spencer Dohm was relieved to hear about the initiative for environmental sustainability. "There was kind of a lack of knowledge of that my freshman year," he said. "I don't think they really pushed for it at all."
However, according to Woolpert, who has been helping to coordinate and publicize the movement, it has been in the works since the '04-'05 academic year. In the spring of 2005, he said, more than 40 faculty and staff members met in reading/study groups to discuss the issue. "Things have been happening in this area for several years," he said. "There were already energy conservation measures going on; there were already courses being taught." Now, he said, the college is entering the next phase of this ongoing plan.
As part of this action, incoming freshman were asked to read two documents related to global climate change over the summer, which could be found online at sustainsmc.stmarys-ca.edu. One document was a summer report of findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; the other was a statement by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
According to the Dean for the School of Liberal Arts Stephen Woolpert, it is important for people to understand environmental issues from not only a scientific perspective, but a moral one. In his presentation to new students on Saturday, he quoted Pope John Paul II to encourage this understanding: "Christians and all other believers have a specific role to play in educating people in ecological awareness."
Returning students and college employees have also undoubtedly noticed the measures taken in promoting campus sustainability. The number of recycling containers across campus have increased since last term.
Senior Spencer Dohm was relieved to hear about the initiative for environmental sustainability. "There was kind of a lack of knowledge of that my freshman year," he said. "I don't think they really pushed for it at all."
However, according to Woolpert, who has been helping to coordinate and publicize the movement, it has been in the works since the '04-'05 academic year. In the spring of 2005, he said, more than 40 faculty and staff members met in reading/study groups to discuss the issue. "Things have been happening in this area for several years," he said. "There were already energy conservation measures going on; there were already courses being taught." Now, he said, the college is entering the next phase of this ongoing plan.