welcome

Working or studying at a place that is so far behind in terms of energy efficiency, waste minimization, and a general culture of environmental awareness, is difficult for many of us on campus that are concerned about the environment and our collective legacy. I am constantly reading about the amazing, progressive things other colleges are doing. Just yesterday, numerous people sent me a link to a Chronicle of Higher Ed article entitled "A Green Curriculum Involves Everyone On Campus." Here the author notes: "Like an increasing number of our peer institutions, Oberlin College has adopted a comprehensive environmental policy on energy use, purchasing, building construction and management, food, transportation, waste, grounds management, and education." While I rejoiced when I read this, I also cringed knowing that The College of Charleston was far from being one of those peer institutions. Just trying to figure out where to start here at the CofC can be crippling. There is so much to do and so many people that need to be involved that finding a handhold or crevice to grab just in order to start the climb seems almost impossible.

Although it may be hard to see it at this point, we are making progress. By the end of the summer we hope to have produced a 50-year sustainability plan for The College that will guide us, ultimately, to zero waste and zero greenhouse gas emissions! It will be ambitious indeed but, for a number of reasons, it has to be. Lets not forget that the place that we call home is called the Lowcountry for a reason. With even a small rise in sea levels, the peninsula and surrounding areas will face serious flooding problems that could jeopardize the very existence of the current campus. As a place of higher learning, we have to set an example and do all that we can to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. And, if for no other reason, we’re obliged to work in this direction because President Benson signed the College and University President's Climate Commitment. By signing this document, he has committed the College of Charleston to work toward becoming "climate neutral." For more info and to see the commitment itself go to http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/ I look forward to sharing the sustainability plan with you once it is completed and receives administrative approval and support.

In the meantime, we are putting together a plan for a "Sustainability Corridor" on campus. Based on the SC Heritage Corridor, the plan, as proposed by Jerome Clemons, Jr., would establish a section of the campus that will be truly sustainable. Due to the fact that many buildings on George St. are already slated to be re-furbished to LEED Silver status, as well as the fact that this sector includes Randolph Hall, the section of George St. from St. Phillip to Coming was chosen to be the initial leg of the corridor. Those buildings not slated to be "migrated" will still receive attention to increase their efficiency and reduce waste production. As part of this proposal, the Cistern would be returned to working order and supply water for the surrounding grounds (foreseeing we get some rain!). The President's office would become a model for sustainable practices (comprehensive recycling, energy conservation by employees, etc.). Members of the Sustainability Committee are very excited about the corridor -- it might just be the handhold that we have been seeking. The plan provides the potential to raise awareness and, if successful, the means to grow and expand until the entire campus is sustainable. The other great thing about the corridor is that it does not have to stop at the campus border. We hope that it will eventually continue on to King St. and follow pathways throughout the city. Ultimately, we hope that this corridor will provide an opportunity for The College to influence and work with the greater community. I can envision a student run environmental consulting firm that brings together majors in marketing, entrepreneurship, economics, biology, and chemistry all working to help local businesses reduce their environmental footprint and educate the community.

RECYCLING! though the least effective of the three R's (“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”), recycling is important nonetheless. It will come as no surprise to many that the College of Charleston has one of the worst recycling rates for a college/university in the country. In the 2008 Recyclemania competition, we came in 149th out of 163 schools with a recycling rate of 1.4%. We have all seen the recycling bins full of trash, the trash full of recyclables, and everything going into the dumpsters. It’s time to STOP COMPLAINING and do something. Anyone can take trash out of the recycling bins and put it in the trash. And anyone can take recyclables out of the trash and put them in a recycling bin. If you see problems with our recycling program, call the physical plant 953-5550. Or, take action by writing a note to President Benson. You or your department can also adopt a building. Or go old school and organize a sit-in. Join the recycling committee [go to http://www.cofc.edu/~recycling/ for more info and ways to get involved with recycling] As soon as the beginning of the Fall semester, you should see brand new, maroon recycling bins in buildings around campus. Use them! Talk about them. Mention them to your students, co-workers, colleagues. Then, reduce, reuse, and rot (compost) -- this will do much more for the environment than recycling. It is my sincere hope that at some point, CofC cans will be trash free: everything that comes onto the campus will either be recycled, re-used, or composted. The college is currently spending over $400,000 a year, just to have the trash hauled away. Couldn't we shift that funding toward a serious recycling and composting program? We could even sell the excess compost: Cougar Compost and possibly even turn it into fuel.

And, while I’m ranting, what about water bottles? Please, these things are ubiquitous and really not good for our society, nor the earth. Get yourself a steel, reusable water bottle and fill up at the tap. It is cheaper, cleaner, and much, much less environmentally damaging than buying water bottles. It’s known that 1.5 million tons of plastic are used worldwide to make water bottles and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, plastics make up the fourth largest category of municipal solid waste.

OK, that’s my word for now. Remember, we’re all in this together and, in time, we can make the College a model of sustainability.

Until next time, thanks for reading my rant.

Burton.
Burton Callicott
Librarian
Sustainability Committee Chair