News Archives - 2009
SAM is going to help you be green
September is a busy month at Augsburg College—a month filled with opportunities to meet new people, have new experiences, and to learn new things.
This September, in addition to learning how to solve for x and to conjugate the verb estar, students (as well as faculty and staff) can participate in a month-long series of events and activities designed to raise awareness and change habits related to sustainability. It's called, appropriately enough, Sustainability Awareness Month—or SAM.
SAM is the brainchild of Augsburg students, several of whom participated in faculty led study abroad programs including Sustainable Cities in North America with Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer in the summer of 2008. After students in the course worked with A'viands to create a composting program in Augsburg's dining facilities last year, they wanted to take the next step to make Augsburg a more environmentally friendly and sustainable campus.
The "next step" turned out to be a month of events to kick off the academic year and to give the community a model for living and working sustainably at Augsburg. Working with Christiansen as well as members of Augsburg's Environmental Stewardship Committee and A'viands staff, the students developed the schedule and secured funding to support their program.
Kjerstin Hagen '10 [pictured above], a leader on the project, says SAM will not only bring to light issues the College faces regarding sustainability, but it will also teach community members what they can do to participate in the effort. "We want this to bring the campus together," said. "It takes all of us to make this happen."
Each week is centered around a different theme. Students will table in Christensen Center with information and activities related to the week's theme, and several speakers will come to campus including Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and nationally known author and activist, Bill McKibben.
Week 1: Waste Reduction and Management
This week builds on the success of the composting program started last year on campus. The goals are to raise separation awareness (compost vs. trash vs. recycling) and target recycling and composting habits to result in one less garbage pickup per week.
Week 2: Alternative Transportation
This week will introduce or reacquaint the community with the many alternatives to one-person automobile transportation. It includes a presentation by Janine Borchardt of the public safety department on cycling in the city, a Minneapolis bicycle ride with Lars Christiansen, and a walk/bus/bike/carpool to work day.
Week 3: Alternative Energy and Consumption
This week features the "Dorm Wars," a challenge between residence halls to reduce their energy consumption with an ice cream social celebration at the end of the week. Bill McKibben will speak about climate change on Monday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. for the 2009 Christensen Symposium.
Week 4: Connecting Communities through Food
This week provides an opportunity to learn more about how Augsburg connects to the community through the Campus Kitchens program and our own community garden. Students, faculty, and staff can work in the garden, come to a garden party, and even help plant apple trees for the Campus Greenification project.
Visit the SAM table in the Christensen Center lobby and watch Inside Augsburg for more information and a complete listing of SAM events.
