 "Photo:")
To further raise awareness of the importance of conservation and to create a tradition similarly successful to the spring semester's Earth Day celebrations, Ecopledge and the Undergraduate Government of BC sponsored "Harvest Fest" Thursday in the Dustbowl.
Students on their way to and from class stopped to paint pumpkins and T-shirts, make potted plants, feast on candy, and learn about big and small changes that they can make on campus to help the environment.
In addition to the lighter festivities, students from Ecopledge and the Urban Ecology Institute also offered presentations on environmental issues and energy use on campus to promote their new policy proposal, "The BC Clean Energy Policy," which would be a formal commitment from the University to obtain some or all of its energy needs from renewable sources rather than carbon-emitting fossil fuels. Those behind the plan say that it will benefit the school by lowering energy costs and reducing BC's impact on global warming.
Efforts to conserve energy and improve energy efficiency on campus reduced the University's energy usage by 10 million kilowatt hours and saved Boston College $120,000 last school year. The savings were made possible thanks in large part to campus groups such as Ecopledge which work to educate students on how to help the environment.
"It's not just an environmental issue, but it's a societal issue, and economic issue, and a global justice issue too. We're trying to get support because it's a problem of our generation," said Katherine Walsh, president of Ecopledge and A&S '08.
With its new plan, Ecopledge aims to convert 60 percent of University energy requirements to clean sources by the year 2010 and 30 percent by the next academic year. In conjunction with the presentations, signatures were also collected in support of the new initiative.
The BC Clean Energy Policy also entails an interest-free Revolving Loan Fund with an initial investment of $1 million which would be committed to energy-saving initiatives. It would also be self-sustaining because the money saved through energy efficiency projects would then replenish the fund for future projects and initiatives.
Another concern is to have the buildings of the new Brighton campus be energy efficient by implementing as many items on the Energy Star checklist as possible.
"Asking for such things for the new campus is very important because it is easier to start fresh with new buildings then try to retrofit the current buildings on main campus," said Walsh.
Additional presentations provided ample information promoting BC's environmental studies minor. "I really like the classes that they offer, however, I wish BC would give them more funding and make it a possible major," said Walsh. "It's a growing field, and they've seen increase every year in people who are committed to the minor."
The primary purpose of the event was to encourage small changes in everyday lifestyle, such as eating more organic foods, buying less, using public transportation, and using the many recycling bins on campus.
"The biggest thing is the student body," said Walsh. "The student body complains that the school doesn't give us enough recycling receptacles, but they don't use the ones that are there. Everyone needs to come together, especially the students."
Ecopledge has a tradition of going to football games early and standing by the recycling bins at games and taking recyclables from people. The club is always looking for more students to help out with such endeavors that encourage recycling, and members stress the fact that it is a fun way to be involved and meet new people.
In just a few short hours of heralding its new objectives, Ecopledge managed to gather 264 signatures on its petition to support its new policy.
The success of events like Harvest Fest affirms that environmentalism is on the minds of BC students and shows how much can be done simply by being conscious of the issue.
Be the first to comment on this article!