Spring Break
ASCSU environmental department links students to green campaigns
Alexandra Sieh
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: News
According to Canavan, the department will bring local environmental issues to the campus, working as a "closer-to-home" group rather than an administrative initiative.
"The administration focuses on the really broad issues … and I really think this department can focus a little bit and micro process things a bit better," Canavan said.
Starting with a small budget, this year will help to set financial allowance for this department in future years.
The department has been given $250 to start with for this year, with the possibility of reaching up to $15,000 depending on particular projects, according to Canavan. The amount is subject to change in the future.
Currently, Diedrich and Canavan are working on simple initiatives, such as bike-to-school days and recycling campaigns. They said they also intend to focus some efforts on the tailgating parking lot for football games. Clean-up crews and increased recycling bins in the parking lot will be considered.
The department also plans to look at the larger project of an ink cartridge recycling round up.
The electronic collections project would also include items such as printers and old computers, items typically difficult to recycle properly. If the project goes well, they said, the campus could gain monetarily.
"If we reach a certain quantity of cartridges or electronics in general, there's potential for some companies [such as HP] to give us a donation for the effort," Canavan said. "That money could go towards the school, the department or towards ASCSU."
While some doubt the university's green efforts, Diedrich said, there are plenty of initiatives in play now that are going unnoticed or unseen.
"We'll be able to create tangible results and some real improvements to the university that people can see that we are doing," Diedrich said.
"We want people to know that we're working hard for them and that we're really trying."
Staff writer Alexandra Sieh can be reached at news@collegian.com.
"The administration focuses on the really broad issues … and I really think this department can focus a little bit and micro process things a bit better," Canavan said.
Starting with a small budget, this year will help to set financial allowance for this department in future years.
The department has been given $250 to start with for this year, with the possibility of reaching up to $15,000 depending on particular projects, according to Canavan. The amount is subject to change in the future.
Currently, Diedrich and Canavan are working on simple initiatives, such as bike-to-school days and recycling campaigns. They said they also intend to focus some efforts on the tailgating parking lot for football games. Clean-up crews and increased recycling bins in the parking lot will be considered.
The department also plans to look at the larger project of an ink cartridge recycling round up.
The electronic collections project would also include items such as printers and old computers, items typically difficult to recycle properly. If the project goes well, they said, the campus could gain monetarily.
"If we reach a certain quantity of cartridges or electronics in general, there's potential for some companies [such as HP] to give us a donation for the effort," Canavan said. "That money could go towards the school, the department or towards ASCSU."
While some doubt the university's green efforts, Diedrich said, there are plenty of initiatives in play now that are going unnoticed or unseen.
"We'll be able to create tangible results and some real improvements to the university that people can see that we are doing," Diedrich said.
"We want people to know that we're working hard for them and that we're really trying."
Staff writer Alexandra Sieh can be reached at news@collegian.com.
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