Campus Environment and Sustainability Task Force

April 1, 2009

This document contains the Campus Environment and Sustainability Task Force recommendations for helping to ensure that NSU addresses responsibilities regarding environmental issues in a proactive manner and ensure that we are finding opportunities to participate and lead community initiatives regarding sustainability, recycling, energy efficiency, and other related areas. These recommendations are divided into short-term and long-term initiatives. We hope that many of the short term recommendations, which are no to low-cost, can be initiated very quickly. The long term recommendations will take more time and planning.

Short Term Recommendations

1. A survey that can be used to investigate the level of knowledge, interest, and willingness to participate in issues involving making NSU part of a sustainable community has been prepared and is ready to be delivered to the NSU community. See Appendix A for a copy of this survey. We hope that this survey will provide important information about how to proceed with the initiatives described below and feel that it should be administered as soon as possible.
2. Establish and publicize a Sustainability Policy for NSU. The following is a draft of what such a policy might contain:

Northeastern State University is dedicated to fulfilling its important role as a community leader with regard to environmental sustainability. The policies and practices of this institution will cultivate a community of environmental awareness through educational programming and exemplify eco-friendly actions that enhance the well being of the planet, such as increasing the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficient equipment. Sustainable policies and practices are to be integrated into every level of the University, minimizing its use of energy and resources, as well as providing opportunities for students, faculty and staff to choose to reduce, recycle and reuse materials. The goal of NSU is to leave a legacy of an improved environment for generations to come .

1. Establish a user friendly green web presence on the NSU homepage. An NSU homepage Green Link has already been created and goes to a page that needs to be filled with environmental tips, links to blogs and other information including articles about NSU's ongoing environmental and sustainability efforts and success stories! The following sites have blogs, widgets, RSS feeds, daily tips and other fun, informative ideas for the Green Link at Green Living Ideas. For a look at such a web page at a similar sized university in Oklahoma go to the University of Central Oklahoma Student Resources.
2. Initiate a campus-wide paper recycling effort as soon as possible. A local company, Georgia Pacific, is willing to place paper recycling bins in several locations on campus and collect the paper once every 2 weeks if all of the bins fill up that regularly. A recent effort by NAB demonstrated that faculty, staff and students are willing to participate in such a recycling effort. In 1 month, approximately 15 campus offices provided 34 truckloads + 580 pounds + 144 bags of paper* for recycling. In addition, cans, ink cartridges and cell phones were also collected for recycling. By providing this opportunity to the entire campus, on an ongoing basis, NSU can begin to move toward a more comprehensive recycling effort and work out some of the issues that will be involved in that process. *The various categories of amounts of paper are just as provided to me by DeAnn Amlin, NAB representative.
3. Encourage and/or require paperless options for as many campus transactions as possible. Examples: Allow faculty to keep their professional dossier as PDF file, distribute even more documents via e-mail, provide all faculty with the ability to generate PDF files from paper documents at their computers.
4. Establish a campus policy for energy conservation. Examples: Turn off lights, computers, projectors and other electric items when not in use; set thermostats at energy saving temperatures, etc.
5. Organize annual clothing, shoes, and small household items donation drive at the end of the semester to coincide with dorm move out. Community involvement should be sought and used to create partnerships and educational opportunities.
6. Collaborate with a consortium at the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
7. Organize public forum to discuss sustainability issues and invite students, faculty, staff, community groups and individuals. This could happen as part of a general University Assembly.
8. Organize an annual Earth Day Event. This could include a viewing of An Inconvenient Truth or some other appropriate film and invitations to environmentally oriented groups and clubs to set up tables and booths. The Earth Day event could become part of the Centennial Celebration.

Long Term Recommendations

1. Establish a permanent NSU Green Team composed of a permanent, full-time staff leader and volunteer faculty, staff and students to pursue environmental issues. The permanent staff member should be trained in sustainability issues (preferably with a degree in this field), and would be in charge of environmental educational programs, opportunities and events. Tahlequah, Broken Arrow and Muskogee campuses should all be represented on this group.
2. Institute a comprehensive recycling program in cooperation with the City of Tahlequah and the Cherokee Nation: Paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic, glass, electronics, cell phones, printer and copier toner cartridges, batteries and anything else that can be recycled.
3. Institute a composting program for food waste, lawn clippings and leaves. Resulting compost could be used for on campus gardens and plantings and the excess sold or donated to Tahlequah's Community Garden.
4. Institute water conservation policies for dorms, cafeterias, and grounds maintenance. Reduce water consumption by recycling grey water.
5. Purchase more environmentally friendly, recyclable, recycled, and locally produced products for on campus use. Assess maintenance methods, such as leaf blowers, lawn chemicals, etc. Replace whenever possible with more environmentally friendly options. Examples: Change to high-performance light bulbs, purchase energy efficient appliances and electronics preferentially.
6. Encourage more bicycling, walking and carpooling to and on campus by increasing the number of bike paths and bike racks, making discounted parking stickers available to car-poolers, and connecting potential car-poolers via database. Celebrate and reward people who choose to carpool, ride bikes, or walk by holding a Green Star Luncheon or other event where they get special treatment for their green efforts.
7. Continue to perform environmental assessment of new construction projects with the objective to use environmentally responsible building materials, designs that require less energy to heat and cool, etc. Install solar panels to reduce other forms of energy usage. Derive a significant portion of energy from renewable resources. Retrofit buildings with new windows, new HVAC systems.
8. Investigate grants for sustainability efforts on campus. This should be done by the appropriate individuals in the areas outlined in the above recommendations.  Find Federal Grant Resources.
9. Consider adopting a Common Book for the University with a theme involving the idea of sustainable communities each semester that is discussed in many different courses. For a list of suggested books see Appendix B.
10. Continue to invite guest lecturers in the field of sustainable communities to NSU to give presentations and to interact with students, faculty and staff. For a list of suggested speakers see Appendix C.
11. Add a sustainability course or category of optional courses into the existing General Education requirements for all NSU graduates. Some appropriate courses for the latter option might include: Environmental Problems (BIOL3413), Environmental Geology (GEOL 4134), Fundamentals of Geography (GEOG 2243), Global Studies (GEOG 3003), Environmental Geography (GEOG 3033), Geography of Agriculture (GEOG 4183), Soil and Plant Geography (GEOG 4343), Contemporary Human Environments (HFS 2203), Consumer Issues (HSF 3113), Technology and Society (TECH 3023), and Introduction to Environmental Management (ENVM 3023). If a new course is added, several textbook options are available including Environmental Issues: An introduction to Sustainability by McConnell and Abel, 3^rd ed.

Appendix

1. My role at NSU is as a
   1. Student
   2. Faculty member
   3. Staff member

1. My age in years is
   1. Less than 21
   2. 21-25
   3. 26-30
   4. 31-40
   5. 41-50
   6. 51-60
   7. More than 60

1. My level of education is
   1. Did not complete high school
   2. Completed high school
   3. Completed some college
   4. Completed college degree
   5. Completed graduate degree

1. My race/ethnicity is best described as
   1. White
   2. Black
   3. American Indian
   4. Asian
   5. Hispanic
   6. International
   7. Unknown

1. I am
   1. Female
   2. Male

1. In which of the following environmental activities have you participated? Select as many as apply
   1. Written a letter to a public official about an environmental issue
   2. Signed a petition about an environmental issue
   3. Attended a public meeting concerning an environmental issue
   4. Contributed time and/or money to an environmental organization
   5. Attended a public demonstration concerning an environmental issue

1. Do you think the environmental situation in your area has gotten better, worse or stayed the same during the past five years?
   1. Better
   2. Worse
   3. Stayed the same

1. Please describe how concerned you are about the quality of our air and water.
   1. Not at all concerned
   2. Not very concerned
   3. Somewhat concerned
   4. Very concerned

1. Not very concerned
   1. Somewhat concerned
   2. Very concerned

1. Please describe how concerned you are about the issue of deforestation.
   1. Not at all concerned
   2. Not very concerned
   3. Somewhat concerned
   4. Very concerned

1. Please describe how concerned you are about global warming.
   1. Not at all concerned
   2. Not very concerned
   3. Somewhat concerned
   4. Very concerned

1. Please describe how concerned you are about over population.
   1. Not at all concerned
   2. Not very concerned
   3. Somewhat concerned
   4. Very concerned

1. Do you believe that more controls should be placed on industry and agriculture to protect the quality of the environment?
   1. Not at all
   2. Not very
   3. Somewhat
   4. Very strongly believe

1. Do you believe there are enough laws to protect the environment?
   1. Not at all
   2. Not very
   3. Somewhat
   4. Very strongly believe

1. Would you support environmental regulations that might restrict your way of life?
   1. Not at all
   2. Not very
   3. Somewhat
   4. Very strongly support

1. Many environmental issues involve difficult trade-offs. Which of the following statements best describes your view?
   1. The highest priority should be given to the environment, even if it hurts our economy.
   2. Both the environment and economy are important, but the environment should be our first consideration.
   3. Both the environment and economy are important, but the economy should come first.
   4. The highest priority should be given to the economy, even if it hurts the environment.

1. Consider the following statements. Choose the statement that best describes your view.
   1. The average American does not contribute at all to global warming.
   2. The average American contributes slightly to global warming.
   3. The average American contributes somewhat to global warming.
   4. The average American contributes a great deal too global warming.

1. Consider the following statements. Choose the statement that best describes your view concerning carbon emissions, implicated in global climate change.
   1. My personal carbon emissions don't warrant any action.
   2. My personal carbon emissions warrant minimal actions on my part.
   3. My personal carbon emissions warrant moderate actions on my part.
   4. My personal carbon emissions warrant very significant actions on my part.

1. From what you know about global warming, which of the following statements do you agree with most?
   1. Global warming has been established as a serious problem and immediate action is necessary.
   2. There is enough evidence that global warming is taking place and some action should be taken.
   3. We don't know enough about global warming and more research needs to take place before considering what if any action needs to take place.
   4. There is NOT enough evidence that global warming is taking place and NO action should be taken.

1. Select ALL the actions you are willing to take to reduce or offset your contribution to atmospheric carbon dioxide, implicated in global climate change.
   1. Limit gasoline use by purchasing a hybrid automobile.
   2. Limit gasoline use by driving less.
   3. Reduce electricity use in the home.
   4. Reduce electricity use in the workplace.
   5. Learn more about global warming and ways I can help reduce my carbon footprint.
   6. Use of sustainable energy such as wind or solar power if available.
   7. Purchase voluntary Carbon Credits to offset my personal carbon emissions from an organization that uses the funds collected to plant trees only.
   8. Purchase voluntary Carbon Credits to offset my personal carbon emissions from an organization that uses the funds collected to create Conservation Easements that protect large tracts of heavily forested lands from development - forever.
   9. I don't believe I need to do anything.

1. Concerning transportation
   1. I limit unnecessary driving and frequently walk, ride a bicycle or seek public transportation options because I am concerned about the environment
   2. I limit driving out of concern for the environment
   3. I drive anywhere I want, because I feel it is not harmful to the environment

1. What is your general attitude towards recycling?
   1. Positive
   2. Negative
   3. Undecided

1. Do you currently recycle?
   1. Yes
   2. No

1. I recycle because (select all that apply)
   1. Personal satisfaction/good for the environment
   2. Feel recycling is necessary
   3. Thoughts of reusing resources
   4. Monetary incentive
   5. Feel obligated personally or socially
   6. I don't recycle

1. What do you find interferes with your personal recycling efforts? Select all that apply.
   1. Mess, lack of storage space
   2. Inconvenient
   3. Forget, lazy, difficult
   4. Not enough to recycle
   5. Lack of time or information
   6. Poor access to recycling facilities
   7. Nothing
   8. I don't recycle

1. Would you recycle on the NSU campus if there were easily accessible bins to throw recyclables in?
   1. Yes
   2. No

1. Do you know where to take recyclables in Tahlequah?
   1. Yes
   2. No

1. Are you aware of any places to take recyclables on the NSU campus?
   1. Yes
   2. No

1. When deciding whether or not to make a purchase, the environmental impact of that purchase
   1. Is very important in my decision
   2. Has some impact on my decision
   3. Has minimal impact on my decision
   4. Has no role in my decision

1. When given the opportunity to buy a locally made product or one which has been produced far away and shipped a long distance
   1. I would pay more to buy the locally made product
   2. I would buy the locally made product only if it is the same price or less expensive
   3. Where a product is made is not important to me

1. Please select all the actions you take out of concern for the environment
   1. I turn off the lights when they are not being used to save electricity.
   2. I avoid purchasing products that are over packaged.
   3. I talk to people when they harm the environment in an effort to persuade them to stop that activity.
   4. I purchase organic fruits and/or vegetables.
   5. I don't let the water run at the sink and keep it on only when necessary.
   6. I avoid the use of paper towels when possible.
   7. I talk to my family and friends about what they can do to help solve environmental problems.
   8. I recycle printer cartridges.

1. Please select all of the actions below that you would support for the NSU campus
   1. I would be willing to pay a one-time fee that went toward recycling on the NSU campus.
   2. I would you attend lectures and seminars that talk about the importance of recycling.
   3. I would you read an "Environmental Tip of the Day" on the NSU website.
   4. I am supportive of NSU having an environmental policy.
   5. I think NSU should have a composting program.
   6. I think NSU should have a recycling program and I would participate in it.
   7. I would be willing to bicycle more often provided trails and parking are available on campus.

1. Overall, I feel efforts to protect the environment issues are
   1. Extremely important
   2. Fairly important
   3. Not very important
   4. Not important at all

Appendix B

Common Book Suggestions

1. Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit by Al Gore
2. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
3. American earth: Environmental writing since Thoreau, edited by Bill McKibben; forward by Al Gore. Penguin Putnam, 2008
4. Understanding environmental health: How we live in the world. Jones & Bartlett, 2008.
5. Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken. How the largest movement in the world came into being and why no one saw it coming. Viking, 2007. You can read more about him on his website.
6. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.
7. High Tide, and Six Degrees--Mark Lynas
   High tide : the truth about our climate crisis / Mark Lynas, 2004
   Six degrees : our future on a hotter planet / Mark Lynas, 1973
   Describes a possible climate by outlining what might result from each degree of future warming.
8. The Web of Life: Weaving the Values That Sustain Us by Richard Louv
9. The green book by Rogers & Kostigen
10. In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
11. Epitaph for a Peach: Four Seasons on My Family Farm by David Masumoto
12. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
13. Dire Predictions Understanding Global Warming: The illustrated guide to the findings of the IPCC
14. The Desert Smells Like Rain: A Naturalist in Papago Indian Country by Gary Paul Nabhan
15. Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and Language Among the Western Apache by Keith H. Basso

Appendix C

Speaker Suggestions

1. Christine Ervin

Christine Ervin's career as an environmental leader spans executive positions in both national and state government as well as in the nonprofit sector. As the President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, she led its growth from 200 members and three staff in 1999 to become a highly influential coalition of nearly 5,000 companies and organizations, 50 staff, and 70 local chapters and affiliates. Over her five-year tenure, the Council launched the LEED green building rating system - the nation's de facto voluntary green building standard - and the Greenbuild international conference and expo. In the public arena, Ervin was appointed by President Clinton to serve as Assistant Secretary of Energy for the $1 billion portfolio of clean energy technologies affecting the transportation, buildings, and industrial sectors. High-impact initiatives included Million Solar Roofs, and numerous technology, climate change, and market-focused programs. Ervin also directed the Oregon Department of Energy, led a Governor's task force on livable communities, oversaw budget policy for the State of Missouri, and conducted policy analyses at The Conservation Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund. Having given hundreds of speeches over the last fifteen years, she is nationally recognized for blending a wealth of knowledge about environmental policies with both inspiration and humor, and she is widely cited in both the popular and trade press. She speaks on issues related to energy and environmental policy, emerging markets, green buildings, and opportunities for accelerating change. To discuss Christine Ervin as a possible speaker, please call our toll-free number, 866-658-4848, or send us an email message. Source: ecospeakers.com

1. Michael Pollen

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma. His web site, linked to Omnivore's Dilemma.
Click on "Writings" to see what other books he has written

1. Stan Cox, Jerry Glover, Don Von Tassel, Wes Jackson

We wanted to provide some options for some speakers that would be relatively low cost in case greater funding doesn't materialize. Due to its proximity, the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, could provide such a speaker. The Land Institute, is an agricultural research project that is pursing a sustainable agricultural model. Stan Cox is probably their top scientist and an accomplished author. He, along with Michael Pollan, was a contributor to Haeg's book. Other options from the Land Institute include Jerry Glover (nominated in Nature last month as one of 5 agricultural scientists that could change the world), and David Von Tassell. The co-founder of the Land Institute is Wes Jackson, who spoke in Tahlequah a few years ago at't Unitarian Congregation. Any could speak on a variety of environmental topics, and would not be limited to agriculture

1. T. Boone Picken
2. Shelby Navarro

An Architect who builds green houses to conserve energy.

1. Kelly Price, NSU-BA student

NSGA-BA officer who has developed a recycling plan for the BA Campus. I think it would be great to see a students perspective on how NSU should be recycling.

1. Dr. James E. Hansen

Affiliation: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

New York, NY 10025 USA
E-mail: James.E.Hansen@nasa.gov
Phone: (212) 678-5500

As a college student in Iowa, I was attracted to science and research by James Van Allen's space science program in the physics and astronomy department. Since then, it only took me a decade or so to realize that the most exciting planetary research involves trying to understand the climate change on earth that will result from anthropogenic changes of the atmospheric composition. One of my research interests is radiative transfer in planetary atmospheres, especially interpreting remote sounding of the earth's atmosphere and surface from satellites. Such data, appropriately analyzed, may provide one of our most effective ways to monitor and study global change on the earth. The hardest part is trying to influence the nature of the measurements obtained, so that the key information can be obtained. I am also interested in the development and application of global numerical models for the purpose of understanding current climate trends and projecting humans' potential impacts on climate. The scientific excitement in comparing theory with data, and developing some understanding of global changes that are occurring, is what makes all the other stuff worth it.

1. Jared Diamond

Jared Diamond is Professor of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles. Until recently he was Professor of Physiology at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the widely acclaimed Guns, Germs, and Steel: the Fates of Human Societies, which also is the winner of Britain's 1998 Rhone-Poulenc Science Book Prize. Dr. Diamond is also the author of two other trade books: The Third Chimpanzee, which won The Los Angeles Times Book award for the best science book of 1992 and Britain's 1992 Rhone-Poulenc Science Book Prize; and Why is Sex Fun? (Science Masters Series) Dr. Diamond is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship ("Genius Award"); research prizes of the American Physiological Society, National Geographic Society, and Zoological Society of San Diego; and many teaching awards and endowed public lectureships. In addition, he has been elected a member of all three of the leading national scientific/academic honorary societies (National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society). His field experience includes 17 expeditions to New Guinea and neighboring islands, to study ecology and evolution of birds; rediscovery of New Guinea's long-lost golden fronted bowerbird; other field projects in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. As a conservationist he devised a comprehensive plan, almost all of which was subsequently implemented, for Indonesian New Guinea's national park system; numerous field projects for the Indonesian government and World Wildlife Fund; founding member of the board of the Society of Conservation Biology; member of the Board of Directors of World Wildlife Fund/USA.

1. Michael Oppenheimer

Michael Oppenheimer is the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School and the Department of Geosciences at Princeton University. He is also Director of the Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP) at the Woodrow Wilson School and Faculty Associate of the Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences Program, Princeton Environmental Institute, and the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies. He is also a Visiting Professor of Law at NYU School of Law. He joined the Princeton faculty after more than two decades with The Environmental Defense Fund, a non-governmental, environmental organization, where he served as chief scientist and manager of the Climate and Air Program. Oppenheimer is a long-time participant in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, serving most recently as a lead author of the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report.

1. Fred Pearce

Fred Pearce has been writing about water issues for over 20 years. A former news editor at New Scientist and currently its environment and development consultant, he has also written for Audubon, Popular Science, Time, the Boston Globe, and Natural History. His books include When the River runs dry, Keepers of the Spring, Turning Up the Heat, and Deep Jungle.

1. Fritz Haeg

Fritz Haeg is the author of Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn and the originator of the Edible Estates Project. Haeg addresses one of the great American ecological catastrophes, the yard. He could not only be a speaker but usually puts words into action by transforming a yard in the community into an attractive garden of regional plants, all of which produce food.

1. Paul Hawken

Paul Hawken wrote Blessed unrest: How the largest movement in the world came into being and why no one saw it coming. Viking, 2007. You can read more about him here. See one of his speaking engagements on YouTube.