Campus sustainability made priority for student groups

For University of Cincinnati students and environmentalists looking to get involved in their community, UC Sustainability and its sponsors might provide a solution.

The second Campus Sustainability Day, which featured book signings, guest speakers and student presentations, was held Wednesday, Oct. 21. UC Sustainability sponsored the event.

UC Sustainability was established in 2007 when former President Nancy Zimpher signed the charter to join The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

UC Sustainability is dedicated to bettering the community economically, environmentally and socially. Its current aim is to continue growing and attract new members and volunteers.

The President’s Advisory Council on Environment & Sustainability is a committee established in response to the ACUPCC. It is committed to providing knowledge about how to achieve climate neutrality.

There are several student organizations affiliated with UC Sustainability. Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP), Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Serve Beyond Cincinnati, Re|UC, Environmental Law Society and Urban Justice League all work to promote sustainability on campus.

Co-presidents Zachary Schunn, a fourth-year architecture student, and Jennifer Colley, a second-year architecture student, lead Students for Ecological Design (SED).

“SED is interested in the education, promotion and implementation of environmentally focused design,” Colley said.

The group organizes activities like recycling initiatives and lectures from professors and former UC students.

SED also hosts farmers markets on campus frequently; the next one is scheduled for Monday, Oct, 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on McMicken Commons.

The Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection strives to improve recycling at UC and is involved in other environmental concerns.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, LEAP will meet outside the Campus Recreation Center and travel to the Cincinnati Zoo to observe the zoo’s sustainable practices.

“The Zoo is comparable to UC,” said LEAP president, Anamika Modawl, a fourth-year international business and operations management student. “They are both closed communities. We want to learn from them and I heard a lot of great things about their practices.”

UC’s EWB is one of 140 chapters across the U.S. that works to improve quality of life by providing necessities like clean water to those in need.

Danny Watson, a second-year mechanical engineering student, leads one of three water projects EWB is involved in. Lake Victoria, an African village of 5,000 people, is in need of clean water and Watson is designing a means of providing them with a water supply.

There are several upcoming events for UC Sustainability.

The College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning Lecture Series double feature is scheduled to take place Wednesday, Nov. 4. The series features lectures by Brett Terpeluk, architect of the LEED Platinum California Academy of Sciences and Elliott Sclar, director of the Center for Sustainable Urban Development at Columbia University.

A free documentary on climate change, “The Age of Stupid,” will premiere on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. in MainStreet Cinema, complete with free popcorn.

The United Nations Climate Talks are scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18, at noon in the MainStreet Cinema.

In order to become involved with any of these organizations, students can visit their Web sites online.