2008 Woodie Awards
Orange, Blue ... and Green
Will York
Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Campus News
The UTM chapter of the American Democracy Project wants a touch of green with the Orange and Blue.
UTM's American Democracy Project's latest effort focuses on sustainable development, the idea that economic and human development need not be counter environmental protection.
The American Democracy Project (ADP) is a civic engagement collaboration of more than 200 colleges attempting to drive community involvement.
Mike McCullough, American Democracy Project director, held a meeting of 16 faculty and staff members Feb. 2 with the goal of setting a course for a UTM sustainability advocacy group. Their brainstorming session led to four goals: sustainability in buildings, in the university's mission, collaboration with off-campus organizations and optimization of current "green" efforts.
McCullough said the newly formed group will likely lobby to get LEED certification for UTM's approved student recreation center. LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, outlines requirements for making a building environmentally friendly, including vegetative green roofs and efficient energy and water use.
The group also discussed bringing sustainability into workshops, posing sustainability questions to UTM chancellor candidates, fostering sustainable economic development projects and continuing universitywide biofuels awareness.
Additionally, the group discussed incorporating sustainability into classrooms by creating interdisciplinary courses on sustainable development.
McCullough said ADP's push for sustainability stems from last year's Earth Day events, sponsored by the ADP.
"Several faculty members have been talking about (sustainable development) for a while now, and we decided now would be a good time to do something about it."
He added while UTM has made more effort in recent years to boost recycling and environmental awareness, UTM still lags behind other similar institutions nationwide.
And McCullough said students are welcome - and needed - to help in the initiative. The faculty, staff and students in the group have homework, too. They are reading about sustainability in higher education in an attempt to bring green development to Martin.
Since sustainable development has taken off in the business world, McCullough said it is important students play a part in making sustainability a reality-while learning something in the process.
"Economic development does not occur in a vacuum," McCullough said. "It has to occur in a resource base. That resource base is finite, so sustainability is necessary for development to be prolonged."
The group's next meeting, open to the entire campus, will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21 in UC 206A.
UTM's American Democracy Project's latest effort focuses on sustainable development, the idea that economic and human development need not be counter environmental protection.
The American Democracy Project (ADP) is a civic engagement collaboration of more than 200 colleges attempting to drive community involvement.
Mike McCullough, American Democracy Project director, held a meeting of 16 faculty and staff members Feb. 2 with the goal of setting a course for a UTM sustainability advocacy group. Their brainstorming session led to four goals: sustainability in buildings, in the university's mission, collaboration with off-campus organizations and optimization of current "green" efforts.
McCullough said the newly formed group will likely lobby to get LEED certification for UTM's approved student recreation center. LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, outlines requirements for making a building environmentally friendly, including vegetative green roofs and efficient energy and water use.
The group also discussed bringing sustainability into workshops, posing sustainability questions to UTM chancellor candidates, fostering sustainable economic development projects and continuing universitywide biofuels awareness.
Additionally, the group discussed incorporating sustainability into classrooms by creating interdisciplinary courses on sustainable development.
McCullough said ADP's push for sustainability stems from last year's Earth Day events, sponsored by the ADP.
"Several faculty members have been talking about (sustainable development) for a while now, and we decided now would be a good time to do something about it."
He added while UTM has made more effort in recent years to boost recycling and environmental awareness, UTM still lags behind other similar institutions nationwide.
And McCullough said students are welcome - and needed - to help in the initiative. The faculty, staff and students in the group have homework, too. They are reading about sustainability in higher education in an attempt to bring green development to Martin.
Since sustainable development has taken off in the business world, McCullough said it is important students play a part in making sustainability a reality-while learning something in the process.
"Economic development does not occur in a vacuum," McCullough said. "It has to occur in a resource base. That resource base is finite, so sustainability is necessary for development to be prolonged."
The group's next meeting, open to the entire campus, will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21 in UC 206A.
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