College Briefs

Maryland College cuts carbon by 80 percent

St. Mary’s College cut its carbon dioxide outputs by 80 percent last year thanks to a series of student initiatives.  Students purchased Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset 100 percent of their carbon footprint due to electricity use.
Several new buildings on campus introduced geothermal HVAC systems which will cut emissions by several hundred tons.  Other buildings have increased the efficiency of windows to both save money and reduce the College’s carbon footprint.
Members of the community believe the changes made at St. Mary’s should inspire members of the community.  To solve climate change requires that everyone make sacrifices and look at their own habits, according to David Kung, associate professor of mathematics.
“The students at the college are part of a nationwide movement that is redefining the way society views environmentalism,” said Emily Saari ’12, co-president of the college’s Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC).

—The Baynet

Haverford College to add Enviornmental Studies

After years of discussion and a grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation, Haverford College will add an environmental studies program.
Members of a faculty committee submitted their application to the foundation and received a $1.5 million grant to start the program.  The College will attempt to raise three times that amount through fundraising in the coming three years.
The new program will combine elements of a science and humanities education.  A faculty committee will determine what courses will form the program and how many faculty members to hire.
Discussions about adding a similar program have been ongoing for years.  The College hired its first professor for the program recently. “I think that a liberal arts college is the perfect place for this sort of thing. My kind of research fits really well into interdisciplinary, small liberal arts college environment,” Professor Helen White said.
“We are still in the data-gathering mode, trying to hear from students, alumni in environmental careers,” Professor Robert Scarrow said. “We are asking faculty which of the courses they already teach have environmental implications, because, although we are bringing in new faculty members, we think the program needs more than three faculty members

—The Bi-College News




Williams students fast for climate change

Environmental student leaders at Williams College will fast through upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen to promote immediate action to stem the effects of climate change.
The students joined with other environmental leaders throughout the world in the Climate Justice Fast following the conclusion of the Nov. 6 climate conference in Barcelona.
The group will organize a relay of fasting so that students do not have to continually fast for the duration of the event.  Organizers predict the fast will last 42 days at the very least.
Members of the Thursday Night Group, the Williams environmental club, will wear t-shirts to show their support for the effort.

—The Hamilton Spectator