The Student Printz

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Sebe Dale IV Although the Physical Plant recycled more than 2,000 pounds of aluminum cans last year, USM President Martha Saunders is leading the push for Golden Eagles to go green.

In her inaugural speech Friday, Southern Miss President Martha Saunders announced plans that emphasize environmental sustainability on campus for reasons concerning both the planet and the university's pocketbook.

"Southern Miss is going green," Saunders stated. The university's plan is to promote "healthy campuses" that reduce impact on the environment through updated building designs and an assessment to improve operations within the Physical Plant located on campus.

"Good for the environment, yes, but these actions will mean bottom line savings," Saunders said.

Sidney Gonsoulin, associate vice president of student affairs, recently called the first meeting of a newly formed Sustainability Committee that will create or expand on current programs which promote a "green" campus.

Larry Lee, one co-chairman of the committee, said this new emphasis on environmental awareness came as no surprise to him, since Saunders signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment when she worked for the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater.

Over 500 presidents have signed the ACUPCC, which requires
them to implement a plan within two years, using proven methods and materials, to reduce their universities' "carbon footprint." It is unknown whether Saunders will re-sign the Commitment in the name of Southern Miss.

Lee said there were 23 members present in the Sustainability Committee's first meeting. The discussion was focused on learning from past or recent efforts to create a plan that would encourage a lasting grass-roots movement, supported by the university.

Southern Miss Chief Financial Officer Joe Morgan said during the meeting that there would be an Office of Sustainability on campus that will be funded in the future, though there is not currently a time-line or known means to raise such funds, Lee said.

"My concern has been traction and making sure that [the effort] continues and we don't lose it, because culturally speaking, we're pretty weak in Mississippi," Lee said. "Things that have been going on for a decade elsewhere in the country are just now being heard about, much less put into action." "In other places, municipalities, county and state governments take the lead and then an institution like ours would piggy-back off of that, and [in Mississippi] it's actually going to be the other way around."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools