Spring Break
ASCSU environmental department links students to green campaigns
Alexandra Sieh
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: News
Growing from a small group that shuffled in the cabinet of the Associated Students for CSU, the students heading the first-year Department of Environmental Affairs will direct student government focus to broad student involvement in the university's environmental campaigns.
Created by ASCSU President Taylor Smoot and Vice President Quinn Girrens, the Department of Environmental Affairs will further the environmental work on campus at the student government level, which will allow transparent allocations of student money toward new green initiatives.
"The department will give ASCSU a chance to implement change and make things happen," Girrens said. "They're working to find new things and be more proactive with environmental awareness."
Smoot said that environmental sustainability was a top priority.
"As the student government we are capable of affecting things," he said. "The environment is important."
Chosen to lead this department is Chris Diedrich, director and senior mechanical engineer major, and Patrick Canavan, assistant director and senior natural resources management major. After hearing about the new department, they said, both immediately took an interest and applied for the positions.
"We both have a great level of interest in environmental affairs," Diedrich said.
As the first leaders of the department, both Diedrich and Canavan expressed their own hopes for the program. They said the department is a great addition to ASCSU given the growth of environmental awareness and advocacy as a nationwide trend.
In addition, they said, the department can increase direct student involvement in green campaigns, bridging the gap between the university and its students.
"This department was created … to have the students have a voice in a way for them to be active and actually do something with the university at a higher level than just grassroots campaigning," Diedrich said. "It gives us an actual mechanism for the students to change things around the university on an environmental level."
Created by ASCSU President Taylor Smoot and Vice President Quinn Girrens, the Department of Environmental Affairs will further the environmental work on campus at the student government level, which will allow transparent allocations of student money toward new green initiatives.
"The department will give ASCSU a chance to implement change and make things happen," Girrens said. "They're working to find new things and be more proactive with environmental awareness."
Smoot said that environmental sustainability was a top priority.
"As the student government we are capable of affecting things," he said. "The environment is important."
Chosen to lead this department is Chris Diedrich, director and senior mechanical engineer major, and Patrick Canavan, assistant director and senior natural resources management major. After hearing about the new department, they said, both immediately took an interest and applied for the positions.
"We both have a great level of interest in environmental affairs," Diedrich said.
As the first leaders of the department, both Diedrich and Canavan expressed their own hopes for the program. They said the department is a great addition to ASCSU given the growth of environmental awareness and advocacy as a nationwide trend.
In addition, they said, the department can increase direct student involvement in green campaigns, bridging the gap between the university and its students.
"This department was created … to have the students have a voice in a way for them to be active and actually do something with the university at a higher level than just grassroots campaigning," Diedrich said. "It gives us an actual mechanism for the students to change things around the university on an environmental level."
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