Environmental Council
March 11, 2003
Minutes
Present: Nan Jenks-Jay (Co-Chair), Charlotte Tate, Helen Young, Diane Munroe, David West, Andi Lloyd, Connie Leach Bisson (Vice Chair), JS Woodward, Nick Benjamin, Suzanne Nagi, Doug Dagan
Absent: Andrea Hamre, Ben Wessler, Megan Smith, Gail Smith
1. Announcements
Juliet Schor, Tuesday March 18 "Can Americans Consume Sustainably?"
BIH 216 7:30pm
Paul Ehrlich, "Population, Consumption, Power and International Ethics" Dana Auditorium, Thursday, March 20, 12:15 pm
Betsy Taylor, Monday March 31 "How much is Enough" BIH 216 7:30 pm
Dining Services glasses inventory shortage – No CUPPS supplied by Dining after next year
Nan provided the Environmental Council with background information about a recent message from Matt Biette (Dining Services) requesting assistance in addressing the on-going problem of dishes, cups and flatware being removed from the dining halls. Thousands of dollars of inventory are missing. While some of the responses to his plea suggested that the issue be brought before the Environmental Council, Nan responded that it was an institutional culture issue that has been created by allowing people to walk off with this inventory. Nan's recommendation for how to deal with it includes 1) support for a high profile event to get the plates, cups and cutlery back. 2) institutional commitment to changing the culture, and 3) address alternatives – do Commons need their own inventory of dishes, cups, silverware? A group of key players needs to dialogue about this issue, including reps from the Commons, SGA, Env. Council, Community Council, MISD, Dining Services and SGA. It is not clear whether Dining Services will take the lead in convening such a dialogue.
2. Sub-Committee highlights
EDUCATION: Complementing upcoming events in the consumerism series the video "The Ad & the Ego" will be shown in Thursday, March 13 sponsored by Atwater. Large sheets of blank paper will be hung in the Great Hall for people to respond to the question "What do you want the money can't buy?" The word "simplicity" is being chalked in a corner of blackboards across campus. Table tents mirroring these activities are in the dining halls.
Helen noted that there seems to be limited interest by students in participating in the Environmental Fair and she may reduce efforts on this activity. The subcommittee is not aware of activities being planned for Earth Day on campus. Connie reported that Dining Services is planning to hold an Earth Day barbeque with a band. It will have less of a vegetarian focus than last year. Nan suggested that we might try to continue the simplicity theme and encourage those involved with initiatives that support this goal offer activities e.g. Tour of the organic garden by MISD
Doug shared that he has been participating in SEAC (Student Environmental Action Coalition). He noted that many environmental activists are also focusing on the war issue so that limited Earth Day related interest may be directly related the student activism pool is more taxed currently.
PURCHASING: The subcommittee provided information to faculty and staff about sustainable seafood and specifically Tilapia because the Redfield Proctor menu was altered as a result of a meeting between the subcommittee and Charlie Sargent (buyer for Dining Services) discussing endangered fish species. Dining Services substituted Tilapia for Chilean Sea Bass. On March 21st, Tilapia will be served at FIC and table tents will be developed for the dining halls. In addition, the committee is developing guidelines that might be useful for Catering and those who plan lots of special events that include food such as College Advancement and International Affairs.
Charlotte shared that on March 17th there will be a Health Fair in McCullough. Charlotte has invited numerous environmentally oriented programs to participate: Yellow Bikes, the Outing Club, the organic garden, and the SGA Environmental Affairs Director to participate. Executive Chef David Phelps will provide information about using locally grown foods and Matt Biette will provide information on the college's greenhouse.
GRANTS: Mike Unger and Mike Romankiewicz are moving forward with the Pedal Power grant. They are revising their budget and meeting with Steve Monniger and a commercial exercise bike retailer to redefine their project.
LAND USE: The subcommittee had an astonishing meeting with Tom Corbin where they learned a lot about the structure of land management at the College. The land is owned by a land holding company that is managed by the College. Their discussion focused primarily on agricultural lands and ways the college might approach farmers about modifying their practices (possible incentives). They also discussed which lands have less flexibility due to tax issues and town policy. The next step is to meet with staff who hold "middle management" responsibilities for college lands to explore how best to engage them in the development of the land use policy. Further, the subcommittee is exploring possible state and federal programs. Nan has gathered information about agricultural incentive programs. One farm has already been selected for a cell tower as a revenue generating strategy.
Nan thanked all the committees for doing great work.
3. Environmental Peak
Nan provided some background on the Environmental Peak and the 18 month strategic planning process that occurred in 2000-01. Representation from all sectors of the college (academic and non-academic) were involved, including multiple subcommittees. The report that was developed included a lengthy action chart, including a section on the 21st Century Sustainable Campus. Nan encouraged each subcommittee to review the items in the Sustainable Campus section. Does it fall into your committee's work? Are there actions missing? Things can become outdated because the environmental field faces on-going changes. Each committee should make recommendations of priorities for the coming year and provide updates of work their committees have done on specific action items. Nan would like the Environmental Council to provide a list of priorities for the coming year that can be offered as a recommendation at the Peak Retreat, held by the Environmental Studies and Environmental Affairs faculty and staff in May.
Anyone interested in the entire Peak Report may request it from Connie.
4. Carbon Reduction Initiative
Nan shared with the Environmental Council that the Carbon Reduction Initiative Working Group was moving forward in developing a plan. She indicated that she does not want the process to return to the Environmental Council though she believes that the Environmental Council should always be involved with the Initiative. It does not need to, nor should it, have ownership of this initiative. There is a subcommittee of the Working Group currently addressing what the next steps will be for the process. A report from the Working Group is scheduled as part of the final meeting of the Environmental Council for this academic year on April 29th.