SGA Expands Role to Include Crucial Environmental Issues

Author: Caroline Stauffer

The Student Government Association (SGA) plays an active role in many of the environmental issues happening around campus. With its first major initiative, a summit for campus environmental leaders already completed, SGA Director of Environmental Affairs Michael Silberman '02.5 plans to further environmental awareness on campus.
"The SGA, as a representative body of students, is naturally interested in any issues with which students are concerned," Silberman said. He added, "The dramatic increase in student environmental organizations in recent years is a testament to a growing interest in environmental affairs. Accordingly, the SGA would like to increase its work with any groups on campus that are interested in creating or modifying College policies that relate to our community's behavior toward the environment."
Currently, the SGA is working on revamping the electronic ride board and to institutionalize a shuttle service to bring students to nearby airports before and after College breaks. The SGA is also devising a carbon reduction initiative in collaboration with the Environmental Council to reduce the College's greenhouse gas emissions. The topic is to be addressed by the Community Council in the near future.
Silberman's position exists, he stated, "to help coordinate the efforts of Middlebury's environmental organizations, to serve as a policy adviser and administrative liaison to the student environmental community, to represent the interests of the environmental community to the SGA and to oversee the implementation of specific environmental initiatives sponsored by the SGA."
Silberman believes taking action on initiatives that support environmental awareness on campus are an "inherent obligation … given the richness of Middlebury's geographical setting," and an important contribution to the College's committment to the environment.
"As citizens of a global community, it is important for Middlebury students and the institution as a whole to address the future by taking responsibility for our actions," Silberman said.
He notedthe dramatic increase in student environmental organizations as a reflection of an increasing interest in environmental affairs.
"Accordingly, SGA would like to increase its work with any groups on campus that are interested in creating or modifying College policies that relate to our community's behavior toward the environment," Silberman said. "SGA looks forward to contributing to initiatives that further reduce energy consumption, promote local agricultural systems, minimize waste and support responsible behavior."