Get involved in green initiatives

Katherine Johnson
Columnist

VCU is now the only university in Virginia recognized as an Overall College Sustainability Leader for 2011, based on a report card by GreenReportCard.org that evaluates university’s sustainability efforts.

VCU, as well as other schools that earned the distinction, had an average grade of at least A- in nine judged categories. The Rams’ closest competitors in the Commonwealth are the College of William & Mary and Virginia Tech, with grades of B+. The majority of state schools scored in the B to C range.

The report card graded VCU as having A’s for the administration, food and recycling, green building and transportation categories. We still have room for improvement in climate change and energy, student involvement, endowment transparency and investment priorities, where we scored Bs. Only one category, shareholder engagement, was inapplicable for the university, since shareholders proxy voting doesn’t occur.

Since the school focuses strongly on research, the arts and sciences, it’s unlikely that going green will be our top priority when it comes to financial investments.

Instead, in order to improve a near perfect score, students should take up more responsibility and try to improve the student involvement grade. The category did take into consideration the student government and Green Unity 4 VCU group’s efforts for a green roof as well as waste and water reduction initiatives. But with such a large student population, it’s possible for more to be achieved in this area.

Students that are interested in helping the environment, and especially those in science majors such as environmental studies, should form groups and promote the cause on campus.

Although there are already established organizations that perform a number of green initiatives, increased student involvement, both within organizations and individually, it will help to generate funds to improve VCU’s grade, but more importantly it will spread the word to fellow students who could take simple steps to help improve the environment.

Promoting recycling or tips for waste reduction is something that everyone can do in their daily life. With the help of environmental groups on campus, more students will become aware of and educated on what they can do.

Many already help out without even knowing it, even if they’re not aiming to be green. Each student that bikes or walks to campus has helped VCU’s sustainability grade. Recycling bins are scattered around campus, to the point where at times it’s difficult to find a trash can. Efforts such as this have helped gain VCU recognition, but students can also take be proactive.

The university can focus on its green goals when new students attend orientation. There could be a brief meeting outlining what students can do and the measures VCU plans to take in order to maintain their grade. If students are told these expectations before they start, there’s a higher chance of success.

Another option for increased student involvement could be competitions between student housing, an effort that could potentially make a large impact considering the amount of freshmen living in dorms. Residential assistants could challenge their floor to recycle the most or use the least amount of electricity and water. Whether it’s floor versus floor or building versus building, competition will make students more interested in the cause, especially if they benefit with a small reward.

VCU should be proud of their sustainability grade, particularly because of our large student enrollment and urban setting, which may not be typical of other schools that were recognized as leaders.

As students, we can pitch in as well, and not let all the focus be on money, which is needed in other areas to promote VCU’s role as a growing university with strong ties to research and the arts. With increased student involvement, VCU should be able to maintain or raise their grade as a sustainability leader among universities.