*Found this in the backwoods of the New School website. Enjoy.*
-Ryan
A Short History of the GF at 65 Fifth Avenue
Thirty-five years ago, the Albert List Academic Center at 65 Fifth Avenue - better known by current students simply as "the GF building" - first opened its doors as the main site for the Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Science. But before the building bustled with students, 65 Fifth Avenue had a life - or two - all its own.
65 Fifth Avenue is an historical address. As late as 1881, it was a four-story brownstone, under lease to house the headquarters of Thomas Edison's "new" electrical company. On April 4 of the same year, it had its fifteen minutes of fame when it became the first building to be lit exclusively by electricity.
Sometime after 1881, the brownstone was demolished and, in 1951, 65 Fifth Avenue was turned into the New York City home of Lanes department store, a Canadian enterprise famous during its heyday for women's hats.
Around 1967, 65 Fifth Avenue was acquired by the New School for Social Research, and its renovation for educational use began under the guidance of architects Frederick G. Frost, Jr. and associates. The acquisition and renovation of the building was partially funded by the U.S. Office of Education and the New York State Dormitory Authority.
The building originally was to be "devoted exclusively to the Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, which was established in 1933, and has experienced a dramatic growth in enrollment since 1960," according to "A Home for the Graduate Faculty," an article printed in the New School Bulletin, Vol. 25, No. 3 (October 1967).
In 1968, 65 Fifth Avenue was officially named the Albert List Academic Center, in honor of University Trustee Albert List, whose funding and support for the renovation of the building for academic use were invaluable. Other important figures who made the renovation of the building possible were New York businessmen Meshulam Riklis and Arthur Cohen.
On February 3, 1969, the Graduate Faculty opened the 65 Fifth Avenue building for classes. Around the time of the building's inauguration, then GF Dean Joseph Greenbaum pledged, "We will make every effort during this period of expansion to preserve the character of the Graduate Faculty as an institution which places emphasis on an international academic community." This promise has been well kept.
Thanks to Librarian Carmen Hendershott at the Raymond Fogelman Library for her assistance with this article.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Green School List hosted by Brown University
Hey guys, I belong to this list serve that discusses sustainability on college campuses. It's how I heard about the Sustainabilty Conferenc at Yale.
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Brown_Is_Green/discussion.html
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Brown_Is_Green/discussion.html
The Food Project
The Food Project= http://www.thefoodproject.org/
I met some of these people at the Yale Conferece. They can connect us to students that have gotten local food on their campuses.
Dr.j
I met some of these people at the Yale Conferece. They can connect us to students that have gotten local food on their campuses.
Dr.j
LaGuardia Award Dinner
Hey guys some important people with environmental practices were at this new school benefit:http://www.newschool.edu/majorevents/laguardia/jltishman.aspx?s=2:1
The Durst Organization, Co-Chair
Founded by Joseph Durst nearly a century ago, The Durst Organization is one of the most respected names in New York real estate. The Dursts are among those credited with conceptualizing the modern office building. Their insight and foresight have helped transform New York City's midtown into a center for the world's most notable corporations. Their environmental innovation and trail-blazing commitment to environmental responsibility has made them leaders in the field.
In 1915, Joseph Durst began investing in and managing office buildings along 34th Street in Manhattan. After the Second World War--as existing office space in the Grand Central area was approaching full occupancy--the Dursts concluded that nearby Third Avenue was the logical choice for new business expansion. Anticipating this shift in demand, Joseph Durst's three sons, Seymour, Roy, and David, initiated an astute assemblage strategy along Third Avenue.
By the mid-1960s, the Dursts directed their attention to the prime midtown area west of Grand Central, acquiring additional sites west of Fifth Avenue. By the end of the decade, they had erected their first office tower on Avenue of the Americas and established a leadership role in transforming this avenue into the corporate center it is today.
The 1970s and 1980s marked the arrival of a third generation of Dursts to the organization--Douglas, Jonathan, and Kristoffer--as well as the construction of 1155 Sixth Avenue and 114 West 47th Street. Together, the grandsons of Joseph Durst continue the tradition of creating new opportunities for the city's improvement and development.
The last decade has seen unprecedented growth in The Durst Organization. Along with the arrival of Joseph Durst's great-grandchildren--Helena and Alexander Durst--to the family business, the Dursts built Four Times Square, which catalyzed the redevelopment of Times Square and broke new barriers in "green building" construction and design.
The Durst Organization's portfolio today includes nine office towers in midtown Manhattan along Third Avenue, Avenue of the Americas, and Times Square; two rental residential towers on Manhattan's West Side; and the 2.1-million-square-foot Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park under construction. When the BofA tower is complete it will be New York's premier business address and the most environmentally advanced office tower in the world.
John L. Tishman, Honoree
There are few people who make an indelible mark on this world to the extent that John L. Tishman has. And continues to do so. While the names of an elite contingent are recognized on plaques or carved in stone on facades as testaments to their influence, only a select group can claim that they have shaped cities--both physically and socially. As chairman of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc., for the last 30 years, Mr. Tishman has done just that, leading the company that his grandfather, Julius, founded in 1898 through one monumental building achievement after the next, all the while staying true to the causes of education, the environment, and cultural richness that form the cornerstones of our society.
Since joining the firm in 1948, Mr. Tishman has been a prolific figure, expanding and diversifying his firm--from its owner/builder heritage in high-rise residential properties into all types of construction and hotel and entertainment venue ownership. He has been the prime motivating force behind the company's commitment to, and commanding role in, the advancement and utilization of modern technology and building techniques, as well as a leader into the Internet era.
While inspiring an entrepreneurial spirit throughout the industry, Mr. Tishman has led building efforts on signature projects including the original World Trade Center towers and complex, the John Hancock Building in Chicago, Century City in Los Angeles, Walt Disney's EPCOT Center, the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels in Florida, and restorations of the historic New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City and Carnegie Hall, where he served on the board of trustees for many years.
Mr. Tishman graduated from the University of Michigan in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and later served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. His lifelong passion for education prompted him to become a teacher of mathematics and physics at the Walden School in New York before beginning his career with the Tishman organization.
In recognition of his professional and philanthropic achievements to benefit education and society as a whole, Mr. Tishman has received honorary doctorates from The New School and the University of Michigan. Additional awards and accolades include being named a "Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, celebrated as one of four people on Buildings magazine's "100 Influences that Have Shaped the Buildings Industry" list, and receiving the Skyscraper Museum's Making New York History Award and the New York Historic Business Achievement Award from the Museum of the City of New York.
Mr. Tishman's active involvement in educational and humanitarian endeavors is long-standing. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of the Museum for African Art, the Skyscraper Museum, and The New School, where he is vice chairman and was chairman of the Board of Trustees for seven years. He has played an instrumental role in founding the new Tishman Environment and Design Center, which supports design-led research alongside historical and social inquiry and places an emphasis on innovation within the context of cultural, economic, and ecological factors.
For his monumental achievements, compassion, courage, and determination to forward the causes in which he believes, The New School is proud to honor John L. Tishman with its Fiorello H. LaGuardia Award.
Daniel R. Tishman, Co-Chair
Daniel R. Tishman is a fourth-generation owner and president of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc., and chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction Corporation. Mr. Tishman is responsible for the companies' overall activities and operations for a diverse roster of projects across the nation, as well as continuing to build upon a legacy of innovation and philanthropy established by his father, John.
As construction manager in recent years, Dan Tishman was personally responsible for building such noteworthy projects as 7 World Trade Center--the first building to rise at Ground Zero--the Conde Nast Headquarters, the Reuters/Instinet Headquarters, the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Tower, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and the Skyscraper Museum--all in New York.
Mr. Tishman also oversaw building of the architecturally groundbreaking Westin New York at Times Square for his company's own portfolio. He is currently in charge of construction of the new 1776-foot Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center, the Bank of America New York headquarters, and a roster of other projects for such prestigious clients as Verizon, Merrill Lynch, Bank of New York, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
He combines broad experience in real estate development, planning, design, and construction with a strong dedication to community building, environmental sustainability, and energy conservation. This commitment is reinforced by his lifelong concern for, and interest in, the environment. His formal education includes a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from Lesley College Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Planning from Evergreen State College.
Mr. Tishman's support of organizations and causes important to our society and our planet is diverse and steadfast.
The Durst Organization, Co-Chair
Founded by Joseph Durst nearly a century ago, The Durst Organization is one of the most respected names in New York real estate. The Dursts are among those credited with conceptualizing the modern office building. Their insight and foresight have helped transform New York City's midtown into a center for the world's most notable corporations. Their environmental innovation and trail-blazing commitment to environmental responsibility has made them leaders in the field.
In 1915, Joseph Durst began investing in and managing office buildings along 34th Street in Manhattan. After the Second World War--as existing office space in the Grand Central area was approaching full occupancy--the Dursts concluded that nearby Third Avenue was the logical choice for new business expansion. Anticipating this shift in demand, Joseph Durst's three sons, Seymour, Roy, and David, initiated an astute assemblage strategy along Third Avenue.
By the mid-1960s, the Dursts directed their attention to the prime midtown area west of Grand Central, acquiring additional sites west of Fifth Avenue. By the end of the decade, they had erected their first office tower on Avenue of the Americas and established a leadership role in transforming this avenue into the corporate center it is today.
The 1970s and 1980s marked the arrival of a third generation of Dursts to the organization--Douglas, Jonathan, and Kristoffer--as well as the construction of 1155 Sixth Avenue and 114 West 47th Street. Together, the grandsons of Joseph Durst continue the tradition of creating new opportunities for the city's improvement and development.
The last decade has seen unprecedented growth in The Durst Organization. Along with the arrival of Joseph Durst's great-grandchildren--Helena and Alexander Durst--to the family business, the Dursts built Four Times Square, which catalyzed the redevelopment of Times Square and broke new barriers in "green building" construction and design.
The Durst Organization's portfolio today includes nine office towers in midtown Manhattan along Third Avenue, Avenue of the Americas, and Times Square; two rental residential towers on Manhattan's West Side; and the 2.1-million-square-foot Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park under construction. When the BofA tower is complete it will be New York's premier business address and the most environmentally advanced office tower in the world.
John L. Tishman, Honoree
There are few people who make an indelible mark on this world to the extent that John L. Tishman has. And continues to do so. While the names of an elite contingent are recognized on plaques or carved in stone on facades as testaments to their influence, only a select group can claim that they have shaped cities--both physically and socially. As chairman of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc., for the last 30 years, Mr. Tishman has done just that, leading the company that his grandfather, Julius, founded in 1898 through one monumental building achievement after the next, all the while staying true to the causes of education, the environment, and cultural richness that form the cornerstones of our society.
Since joining the firm in 1948, Mr. Tishman has been a prolific figure, expanding and diversifying his firm--from its owner/builder heritage in high-rise residential properties into all types of construction and hotel and entertainment venue ownership. He has been the prime motivating force behind the company's commitment to, and commanding role in, the advancement and utilization of modern technology and building techniques, as well as a leader into the Internet era.
While inspiring an entrepreneurial spirit throughout the industry, Mr. Tishman has led building efforts on signature projects including the original World Trade Center towers and complex, the John Hancock Building in Chicago, Century City in Los Angeles, Walt Disney's EPCOT Center, the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels in Florida, and restorations of the historic New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City and Carnegie Hall, where he served on the board of trustees for many years.
Mr. Tishman graduated from the University of Michigan in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and later served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. His lifelong passion for education prompted him to become a teacher of mathematics and physics at the Walden School in New York before beginning his career with the Tishman organization.
In recognition of his professional and philanthropic achievements to benefit education and society as a whole, Mr. Tishman has received honorary doctorates from The New School and the University of Michigan. Additional awards and accolades include being named a "Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, celebrated as one of four people on Buildings magazine's "100 Influences that Have Shaped the Buildings Industry" list, and receiving the Skyscraper Museum's Making New York History Award and the New York Historic Business Achievement Award from the Museum of the City of New York.
Mr. Tishman's active involvement in educational and humanitarian endeavors is long-standing. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of the Museum for African Art, the Skyscraper Museum, and The New School, where he is vice chairman and was chairman of the Board of Trustees for seven years. He has played an instrumental role in founding the new Tishman Environment and Design Center, which supports design-led research alongside historical and social inquiry and places an emphasis on innovation within the context of cultural, economic, and ecological factors.
For his monumental achievements, compassion, courage, and determination to forward the causes in which he believes, The New School is proud to honor John L. Tishman with its Fiorello H. LaGuardia Award.
Daniel R. Tishman, Co-Chair
Daniel R. Tishman is a fourth-generation owner and president of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc., and chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction Corporation. Mr. Tishman is responsible for the companies' overall activities and operations for a diverse roster of projects across the nation, as well as continuing to build upon a legacy of innovation and philanthropy established by his father, John.
As construction manager in recent years, Dan Tishman was personally responsible for building such noteworthy projects as 7 World Trade Center--the first building to rise at Ground Zero--the Conde Nast Headquarters, the Reuters/Instinet Headquarters, the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Tower, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and the Skyscraper Museum--all in New York.
Mr. Tishman also oversaw building of the architecturally groundbreaking Westin New York at Times Square for his company's own portfolio. He is currently in charge of construction of the new 1776-foot Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center, the Bank of America New York headquarters, and a roster of other projects for such prestigious clients as Verizon, Merrill Lynch, Bank of New York, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
He combines broad experience in real estate development, planning, design, and construction with a strong dedication to community building, environmental sustainability, and energy conservation. This commitment is reinforced by his lifelong concern for, and interest in, the environment. His formal education includes a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from Lesley College Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Planning from Evergreen State College.
Mr. Tishman's support of organizations and causes important to our society and our planet is diverse and steadfast.
Bob Kerrey and Sustainable Food
Kerrey is on the advisory board for Chez Panisse: http://www.chezpanissefoundation.org/staff.html
Overview
In 1996, Alice Waters, pioneering cook, restaurateur and food activist, created the Chez Panisse Foundation in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of her restaurant, Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California. The Foundation supports an educational program that uses food to nurture, educate and empower youth.
Overview
In 1996, Alice Waters, pioneering cook, restaurateur and food activist, created the Chez Panisse Foundation in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of her restaurant, Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California. The Foundation supports an educational program that uses food to nurture, educate and empower youth.
Monday, November 20, 2006
New School Sustainability Committee Blog
New School Sustainability Committee Blog
Hey All,
Here's the link to see Northland's Environmental Studies course descriptions:
http://www.northland.edu/Forms/CurrentStudents/Registrar/Catalog.pdf
See pages 22-25 (39-43)
-Michelle
Hey All,
Here's the link to see Northland's Environmental Studies course descriptions:
http://www.northland.edu/Forms/CurrentStudents/Registrar/Catalog.pdf
See pages 22-25 (39-43)
-Michelle
yummy recipe for the holidays
hi everyone,
it is the holidays, so i wanted to share with you a delicious recipe for butternut squash pie (i swear it's just as good or even better than pumpkin!). i just made some last night... mmmmmmm... share it with your friends and family...
- 2 cups cooked and blended butternut squash (one big juicy squash from the farmer's market should do it)
--to cook the squash, cut it the long way and scoop out the seeds. then put the two pieces in a glass pan with some water (about 1 cup) and cover it. cook the squash at 375-400 degrees for a while (30-60 minutes, it depends on the squash) until you can easily stick a fork in it! MMMMMM... let the squash cool, then remove the skin, and blend it up
- 1.5 cups evaporated milk or cream (i use whole milk)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon*
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger*
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg*
- 1/8 teaspoon clove*
- 2 eggs
(*or just use 2 teaspoons allspice, which contains all asterixed ingredients)
mix all the yummy ingredients together. pour in a pre-made crust (no hydrogenated oils, of course) or your home-made crust (which is even better). bake for 60 minutes or so at 350 degrees-- it's done when you stick a knife in it and it comes out clean. let it cool and solidify a bit before digging in. add whipped cream (i make it by whipping heavy whipping cream with some sugar and a drop of vanilla extract... drool...) and EAT EAT EAT!
happy eating!!!
it is the holidays, so i wanted to share with you a delicious recipe for butternut squash pie (i swear it's just as good or even better than pumpkin!). i just made some last night... mmmmmmm... share it with your friends and family...
- 2 cups cooked and blended butternut squash (one big juicy squash from the farmer's market should do it)
--to cook the squash, cut it the long way and scoop out the seeds. then put the two pieces in a glass pan with some water (about 1 cup) and cover it. cook the squash at 375-400 degrees for a while (30-60 minutes, it depends on the squash) until you can easily stick a fork in it! MMMMMM... let the squash cool, then remove the skin, and blend it up
- 1.5 cups evaporated milk or cream (i use whole milk)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon*
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger*
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg*
- 1/8 teaspoon clove*
- 2 eggs
(*or just use 2 teaspoons allspice, which contains all asterixed ingredients)
mix all the yummy ingredients together. pour in a pre-made crust (no hydrogenated oils, of course) or your home-made crust (which is even better). bake for 60 minutes or so at 350 degrees-- it's done when you stick a knife in it and it comes out clean. let it cool and solidify a bit before digging in. add whipped cream (i make it by whipping heavy whipping cream with some sugar and a drop of vanilla extract... drool...) and EAT EAT EAT!
happy eating!!!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Apple Bobbing Contest: A Smashing Success
New School Sustainability Committee Blog
This past Wednesday the New School's own Sustainability committee threw an apple bobbing competition to raise awareness about the local foods campaign on campus. What better way to curry favor with the school community than free hot cider and cheap baked goods, including a delicious homemade butternut squash soup, and apple pie created from ingredients grown and processed locally.
When asked to sign a petition to get organic, farmer's market goods into the cafeteria few were hesitant to get on the bandwagon. Tastebuds don't lie, farmer's market apple taste better, and in many cases afforded the more daring and orally agile members of our community awesome prizes from Whole Foods, Joe, Murray's, and several great macrobiotic restaurants. Sock puppets were a hilarious addition to the mix.
Those in class at the time could hear the cheers, jeers, and whistles from the merry madness of apple bobbing. Sustainability is a bit like the game itself: you have to put yourself out there, you know you are going to get soaked, but you do your best to chomp a piece of the elusive sweet fruit. Just to take people out of their routines and into a crazy game helps to send the message that this movement is inclusive and fun amidst a serious commitment to a change in our everyday lifestyles.
Near the end we hijacked a special moment with Bob Kerry (who was passing through the courtyard) where we explained who we are and even got him to sign our petition! When we told him that we wanted to get sustainability on the University's agenda he expressed his mutual concern. Hopefully this interaction will follow through smoothly and become a cooperative effort between the student body and the administration to make the New School live up to its progressive and socially reformative ideals.
This past Wednesday the New School's own Sustainability committee threw an apple bobbing competition to raise awareness about the local foods campaign on campus. What better way to curry favor with the school community than free hot cider and cheap baked goods, including a delicious homemade butternut squash soup, and apple pie created from ingredients grown and processed locally.
When asked to sign a petition to get organic, farmer's market goods into the cafeteria few were hesitant to get on the bandwagon. Tastebuds don't lie, farmer's market apple taste better, and in many cases afforded the more daring and orally agile members of our community awesome prizes from Whole Foods, Joe, Murray's, and several great macrobiotic restaurants. Sock puppets were a hilarious addition to the mix.
Those in class at the time could hear the cheers, jeers, and whistles from the merry madness of apple bobbing. Sustainability is a bit like the game itself: you have to put yourself out there, you know you are going to get soaked, but you do your best to chomp a piece of the elusive sweet fruit. Just to take people out of their routines and into a crazy game helps to send the message that this movement is inclusive and fun amidst a serious commitment to a change in our everyday lifestyles.
Near the end we hijacked a special moment with Bob Kerry (who was passing through the courtyard) where we explained who we are and even got him to sign our petition! When we told him that we wanted to get sustainability on the University's agenda he expressed his mutual concern. Hopefully this interaction will follow through smoothly and become a cooperative effort between the student body and the administration to make the New School live up to its progressive and socially reformative ideals.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Wes Jackson @ the New School!
On behalf of the Tishman Environment and Design Center and Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts I am pleased to invite you to a lecture by Wes Jackson, Ph.D. Jackson is the President and founder (1976) of The Land Institute [ http://www.landinstitute.org ] located in Salina, Kansas. He is a Pew Scholar, MacArthur Fellow, and has received the Right Livelihood Award. His books include Man and the Environment, New Roots for Agriculture, Meeting the Expectations of the Land (edited with Wendell Berry and Bruce Colman), Altars of Unhewn Stone, and Becoming Native to This Place.
The goal of The Land Institute "is to improve the security of our food and fiber source by reducing soil erosion, decreasing dependency upon petroleum and natural gas, and relieving the agriculture-related chemical contamination of our land and water. Our specific research is an innovation for agriculture, using "nature as the measure" to develop mixed perennial grain crops as food for humans where farmers use nature as a standard or measure in making their agronomic decisions. Over 75 percent of human calories worldwide come from grains such as wheat and corn, but the production of these grains erodes ecological capital. Our research is directed toward the goal of having conservation as a consequence of agricultural production."
It has been said that "if we don't get sustainability in agriculture first, it won't happen anywhere". Jackson is leading the way.
Come join us for a fascinating and deeply important lecture. And tell your friends (forward this e-mail); the talk is open to the public.
Nov. 28th 2006
6:30pm Tishman Auditorium
66 west 12th
open to the public
The goal of The Land Institute "is to improve the security of our food and fiber source by reducing soil erosion, decreasing dependency upon petroleum and natural gas, and relieving the agriculture-related chemical contamination of our land and water. Our specific research is an innovation for agriculture, using "nature as the measure" to develop mixed perennial grain crops as food for humans where farmers use nature as a standard or measure in making their agronomic decisions. Over 75 percent of human calories worldwide come from grains such as wheat and corn, but the production of these grains erodes ecological capital. Our research is directed toward the goal of having conservation as a consequence of agricultural production."
It has been said that "if we don't get sustainability in agriculture first, it won't happen anywhere". Jackson is leading the way.
Come join us for a fascinating and deeply important lecture. And tell your friends (forward this e-mail); the talk is open to the public.
Nov. 28th 2006
6:30pm Tishman Auditorium
66 west 12th
open to the public
NSU uses recycled paper! the trees will be drinking!
The New School has committed to purchasing paper made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled fibers for all copiers and printers throughout the campus. Until today, the university had been buying only virgin paper. National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology Fellows and Lang students Hannah Riches and Alison Harvey worked closely with university purchasing officials to identify opportunities to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts associated with the more than 100 tons of copy paper used on campus each year. The students obtained samples of recycled copy paper from vendors, conducted performance tests with the “top ten” paper consumers in the university, and calculated the environmental savings associated with making the switch.
According to Riches, buying recycled paper was both affordable and supported by department officials throughout campus. Director of Business Operations Ed Verdi added: “The Campus Ecology Fellows made a persuasive case. Shifting to recycled paper enables us to reduce our environmental impact while meeting The New School’s printing and duplicating requirements. This is entirely consistent with university’s significant greening initiatives and enthusiastically supported by our administration.”
Riches noted that “The New School’s switch to paper made from 50 percent recycled fibers will result in 108,550 fewer tons of greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere each year based on current levels of consumption.” In addition to reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, the switch will mean that 24 percent less solid waste will be generated and 358,800 pounds of virgin wood will be save.
source: http://www.newschool.edu/lang/news.aspx?id=2484
date accessed 11/17/06
According to Riches, buying recycled paper was both affordable and supported by department officials throughout campus. Director of Business Operations Ed Verdi added: “The Campus Ecology Fellows made a persuasive case. Shifting to recycled paper enables us to reduce our environmental impact while meeting The New School’s printing and duplicating requirements. This is entirely consistent with university’s significant greening initiatives and enthusiastically supported by our administration.”
Riches noted that “The New School’s switch to paper made from 50 percent recycled fibers will result in 108,550 fewer tons of greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere each year based on current levels of consumption.” In addition to reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, the switch will mean that 24 percent less solid waste will be generated and 358,800 pounds of virgin wood will be save.
source: http://www.newschool.edu/lang/news.aspx?id=2484
date accessed 11/17/06
Thursday, November 16, 2006
The New 65 Fifth Avenue.
> Op-ed piece for Inprint Newspaper <
In the announcement of the flashy new fifteen story tower soon to occupy 65 5th Ave, there was no talk of environmental accountability. There wasn't the slightest mention of it anywhere in James Murtha’s letter in the Annual Report, nor in the subsequent Inprint article. Admittedly, this says nothing about how ecologically conscience the current construction plans are; it may be the case that those involved in the planning effort are intending to utilize the greenest building practices currently possible. The fact remains that the student body must ask some important questions and it must ask them publicly.
The new building, in whatever shape it may eventually take, will be an indication of the New School’s character. Therefore it is crucial that our community - faculty and staff included - engage in an open discussion and come to some agreement on what values we want to make manifest in this highly visible form. This structure will be a statement that you and I have an obligation to help write because, once completed, it will speak for all of us.
Based on Murtha’s letter it is clear that progressive aesthetics, modernity, and high technology take precedence in this new building’s design. These are all important elements, but I believe they must be developed within a framework of environmental and civic awareness. Given the shoddy state of the ecosystem and the recent emergence of some very impelling ecological concerns, it is quite hypocritical for a university that openly champions social justice to so casually overlook stating it’s environmental policy. From my perspective, these two ideas are closely entwined and mutually interdependent.
For this reason, I suggest that we build according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) specifications; a widely adopted measure of sustainable design and construction practices. A structure which fares well in this rating system tends to have more open space, more natural light, cleaner air, increased water conservation, efficient waste management, a well-developed recycling system and vastly increased energy conservation. For reasons that should be plainly obvious to most forward-thinking New Schoolers, achieving a high LEED certification would be a fantastically positive step in the right direction.
Advertising this accomplishment could then set a precedent for other institutions to follow in our footsteps - this is the definition of “progressive”. If we place an example of ecological responsibility square in the middle of downtown Manhattan, people will notice. Never underestimate the impact of a singular, highly visible statement.
The suggestion put forth above is but one of many in a discourse that must be contributed to by all. Remember: It’s not just the physical walls of the classroom that are at stake here, it’s the tenability of the values purported inside. Let’s come to a consensus on what “social responsibility” means to us as an institution, then let’s put into practice what we preach.
-Ryan
In the announcement of the flashy new fifteen story tower soon to occupy 65 5th Ave, there was no talk of environmental accountability. There wasn't the slightest mention of it anywhere in James Murtha’s letter in the Annual Report, nor in the subsequent Inprint article. Admittedly, this says nothing about how ecologically conscience the current construction plans are; it may be the case that those involved in the planning effort are intending to utilize the greenest building practices currently possible. The fact remains that the student body must ask some important questions and it must ask them publicly.
The new building, in whatever shape it may eventually take, will be an indication of the New School’s character. Therefore it is crucial that our community - faculty and staff included - engage in an open discussion and come to some agreement on what values we want to make manifest in this highly visible form. This structure will be a statement that you and I have an obligation to help write because, once completed, it will speak for all of us.
Based on Murtha’s letter it is clear that progressive aesthetics, modernity, and high technology take precedence in this new building’s design. These are all important elements, but I believe they must be developed within a framework of environmental and civic awareness. Given the shoddy state of the ecosystem and the recent emergence of some very impelling ecological concerns, it is quite hypocritical for a university that openly champions social justice to so casually overlook stating it’s environmental policy. From my perspective, these two ideas are closely entwined and mutually interdependent.
For this reason, I suggest that we build according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) specifications; a widely adopted measure of sustainable design and construction practices. A structure which fares well in this rating system tends to have more open space, more natural light, cleaner air, increased water conservation, efficient waste management, a well-developed recycling system and vastly increased energy conservation. For reasons that should be plainly obvious to most forward-thinking New Schoolers, achieving a high LEED certification would be a fantastically positive step in the right direction.
Advertising this accomplishment could then set a precedent for other institutions to follow in our footsteps - this is the definition of “progressive”. If we place an example of ecological responsibility square in the middle of downtown Manhattan, people will notice. Never underestimate the impact of a singular, highly visible statement.
The suggestion put forth above is but one of many in a discourse that must be contributed to by all. Remember: It’s not just the physical walls of the classroom that are at stake here, it’s the tenability of the values purported inside. Let’s come to a consensus on what “social responsibility” means to us as an institution, then let’s put into practice what we preach.
-Ryan
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Alaska Presentations and Fall Madness
New School Sustainability Committee Blog
Today the courtyard at Lang was beautiful. The leaves are peaking there and were falling easily at a relaxing pace. The colors were truly stunning; I felt like I was on stage again in a high school play, except with Broadway quality sets. The air smelled nice as well.
The meeting went quite well yesterday, I thought. We really nailed down some concepts for the upcoming apple bobbing contest (Wed Nov 15 4:00 Lang Cafeteria, free cider and awesome prizes). Told the committee about a recent encounter I had on the subway with a gentleman who works for the architecture firm in charge of the new building on 5th. He told me that he would put me in touch with the architects responsible for the project.
It is so imortant that we as a part of the New School community ask and then demand that the new building be green. Green building techniques not only conserve energy and water but, in doing so, save money for the university in the long run. All these advantages aside, a green building on lower 5th ave would be setting an example, in the greatest city in the world, that as a forward-thinking, progressive institutuion, we are commited to making a stand for the environment in these times of gravest need. A green building in New York would most likely curry favor with the downtown Manhattan community and be an excellect example of the type of "Social sustainability" Rob Gogan referred to in his recycling lecture.
Committee member and friend Eva Brill and President James presented this evening on their internships in Alaska with the Tishman Environmental Scholors Program. James had conducted a survey on wind energy and Eva had tackled the topic of Ecotourism. Both lectures were informational and colorful. Alaska seems like a really amazing destination; I had no idea that salmon bakes are so dated though!
More on the conference later
Z
Today the courtyard at Lang was beautiful. The leaves are peaking there and were falling easily at a relaxing pace. The colors were truly stunning; I felt like I was on stage again in a high school play, except with Broadway quality sets. The air smelled nice as well.
The meeting went quite well yesterday, I thought. We really nailed down some concepts for the upcoming apple bobbing contest (Wed Nov 15 4:00 Lang Cafeteria, free cider and awesome prizes). Told the committee about a recent encounter I had on the subway with a gentleman who works for the architecture firm in charge of the new building on 5th. He told me that he would put me in touch with the architects responsible for the project.
It is so imortant that we as a part of the New School community ask and then demand that the new building be green. Green building techniques not only conserve energy and water but, in doing so, save money for the university in the long run. All these advantages aside, a green building on lower 5th ave would be setting an example, in the greatest city in the world, that as a forward-thinking, progressive institutuion, we are commited to making a stand for the environment in these times of gravest need. A green building in New York would most likely curry favor with the downtown Manhattan community and be an excellect example of the type of "Social sustainability" Rob Gogan referred to in his recycling lecture.
Committee member and friend Eva Brill and President James presented this evening on their internships in Alaska with the Tishman Environmental Scholors Program. James had conducted a survey on wind energy and Eva had tackled the topic of Ecotourism. Both lectures were informational and colorful. Alaska seems like a really amazing destination; I had no idea that salmon bakes are so dated though!
More on the conference later
Z
Alaska Presentations and Fall Madness
New School Sustainability Committee Blog
Today the courtyard at Lang was beautiful. The leaves are peaking there and were falling easily at a relaxing pace. The colors were truly stunning; I felt like I was on stage again in a high school play, except with Broadway quality sets. The air smelled nice as well.
The meeting went quite well yesterday, I thought. We really nailed down some concepts for the upcoming apple bobbing contest (Wed Nov 15 4:00 Lang Cafeteria, free cider and awesome prizes). Told the committee about a recent encounter I had on the subway with a gentleman who works for the architecture firm in charge of the new building on 5th. He told me that he would put me in touch with the architects responsible for the project.
It is so imortant that we as a part of the New School community ask and then demand that the new building be green. Green building techniques not only conserve energy and water but, in doing so, save money for the university in the long run. All these advantages aside, a green building on lower 5th ave would be setting an example, in the greatest city in the world, that as a forward-thinking, progressive institutuion, we are commited to making a stand for the environment in these times of gravest need. A green building in New York would most likely curry favor with the downtown Manhattan community and be an excellect example of the type of "Social sustainability" Rob Gogan referred to in his recycling lecture.
Committee member and friend Eva Brill and President James presented this evening on their internships in Alaska with the Tishman Environmental Scholors Program. James had conducted a survey on wind energy and Eva had tackled the topic of Ecotourism. Both lectures were informational and colorful. Alaska seems like a really amazing destination; I had no idea that salmon bakes are so dated though!
More on the conference later
Z
Today the courtyard at Lang was beautiful. The leaves are peaking there and were falling easily at a relaxing pace. The colors were truly stunning; I felt like I was on stage again in a high school play, except with Broadway quality sets. The air smelled nice as well.
The meeting went quite well yesterday, I thought. We really nailed down some concepts for the upcoming apple bobbing contest (Wed Nov 15 4:00 Lang Cafeteria, free cider and awesome prizes). Told the committee about a recent encounter I had on the subway with a gentleman who works for the architecture firm in charge of the new building on 5th. He told me that he would put me in touch with the architects responsible for the project.
It is so imortant that we as a part of the New School community ask and then demand that the new building be green. Green building techniques not only conserve energy and water but, in doing so, save money for the university in the long run. All these advantages aside, a green building on lower 5th ave would be setting an example, in the greatest city in the world, that as a forward-thinking, progressive institutuion, we are commited to making a stand for the environment in these times of gravest need. A green building in New York would most likely curry favor with the downtown Manhattan community and be an excellect example of the type of "Social sustainability" Rob Gogan referred to in his recycling lecture.
Committee member and friend Eva Brill and President James presented this evening on their internships in Alaska with the Tishman Environmental Scholors Program. James had conducted a survey on wind energy and Eva had tackled the topic of Ecotourism. Both lectures were informational and colorful. Alaska seems like a really amazing destination; I had no idea that salmon bakes are so dated though!
More on the conference later
Z
Monday, November 06, 2006
New School Sustainability Committee Blog
New School Sustainability Committee Blog
Rest of the Conference: Broad Strokes The next day I attended the Recycling and Sustainability workshop where presenters Mark Lennon and Rob Gogan discussed the challenges of recycling in a college setting. What came across most to me was the act of recycling as a last ditch effort. The first two R's, reduce and reuse, are actually much more important. Reduction is obvious and leads back to where most sustainability arguments are inevitably drawn: a change in lifestyle, or consciousness. Conservation is the most effective means we have to effect a serious change in our environment. Reuse is the next step after that. Rob Gogan spoke of a campaign he spearheaded at Harvard to collect all of the leftover cosmetic products from the dorms at the end of the semester and bring them to a women's shelter on Valentine's Day. The image of the women running out to the truck remained in my head and got me thinking. To coordinate efforts to literally harvest the many commodities that end up lying around or useless in landfills not only saves the environment but provides precious resources to those who are in need. Rob has organized many such efforts around Harvard, from furniture to used books and cloths. He also spoke of building bridges between the college and the surrounding community. Instead of thinking of Harvard students as invaders who hike up rent and hang out in coffee shops, Cambridge residents can see them, through these recycling efforts, as people who care about the environment that they inhabit and the community that they are infringing upon. This ties into ideas of social sustainability, which he mentioned. Other efforts at Harvard include: A partnership with Allied Waste to convert trash truck to biodiesel and compressed natural gas. This really ultimately saves money, not only in gas but in the disposal of vegetable oil from the school's cafeteria system. A truck burns 2000 gal of biodiesel a year. This not only saves 300$ a month in fuel costs but 50$ a month that would have been spent by the cafeterias to dispose of their fryillator oil and such. Other interesting tidbits: "Stuff Sales" cut trash production by 200 tons and raised 75,462$ in 2006 between selling the items and saving disposal costs. Rob said: "What gets measured gets managed," and I think it is always important to have good data and figures in any environmental movement. Please look up: recyclemaina.org, the college recycling competition. Competition can foster surprisingly good results, especially amongst students. Rob finished with this quote: "If you are not recycling well, how can you possibly convince people that you have a commitment to sustainability?" One of my big recycling questions lately has been: What are the environmental impacts of recycling processing centers? Don't they use alot of fuel and produce pollution that impacts the environment adversely? Is it even worth it to recycle? Rob assured me that this is not the case and that recycling an aluminum can saves eight times the energy that was used to produce that can. He reminded me also of the cost and harm caused by virgin resource extraction. For more information on these recycling issues I urge everybody to look up the websites for the following organizations: The National Recycling Coalition, EPA Wastewise, and the recycling section of the Environmental Defense Fund. The second session I attended was a Sustainability Indicator Session sponsored by some faculty at UVM. Environmental indicator tracking can help a university to become more conscious of its impacts. As was said before: Data needs to be taken, measurements must be made, for us to improve. To take stock of the impacts of a university is a huge product and one must choose from a great amount of variables: solid food waste, electrical energy consumption etc. Please look up the website for "Clean Air, Cool Planet" if you are interested in tracking greenhouse gas emissions. Also the Energy Star program is primarily an emissions reduction effort, check out: portfoliomanager@energystar.gov for more info. One lesson they expressed was that energy performance can be better improved by management over technology. So for all of those who say we need only wait to the next technological advance to save us, think again. Our technology is nothing if we do not manage it correctly and coordinate in order to optimize its performance. Gotta go to the meeting, more later!
Rest of the Conference: Broad Strokes The next day I attended the Recycling and Sustainability workshop where presenters Mark Lennon and Rob Gogan discussed the challenges of recycling in a college setting. What came across most to me was the act of recycling as a last ditch effort. The first two R's, reduce and reuse, are actually much more important. Reduction is obvious and leads back to where most sustainability arguments are inevitably drawn: a change in lifestyle, or consciousness. Conservation is the most effective means we have to effect a serious change in our environment. Reuse is the next step after that. Rob Gogan spoke of a campaign he spearheaded at Harvard to collect all of the leftover cosmetic products from the dorms at the end of the semester and bring them to a women's shelter on Valentine's Day. The image of the women running out to the truck remained in my head and got me thinking. To coordinate efforts to literally harvest the many commodities that end up lying around or useless in landfills not only saves the environment but provides precious resources to those who are in need. Rob has organized many such efforts around Harvard, from furniture to used books and cloths. He also spoke of building bridges between the college and the surrounding community. Instead of thinking of Harvard students as invaders who hike up rent and hang out in coffee shops, Cambridge residents can see them, through these recycling efforts, as people who care about the environment that they inhabit and the community that they are infringing upon. This ties into ideas of social sustainability, which he mentioned. Other efforts at Harvard include: A partnership with Allied Waste to convert trash truck to biodiesel and compressed natural gas. This really ultimately saves money, not only in gas but in the disposal of vegetable oil from the school's cafeteria system. A truck burns 2000 gal of biodiesel a year. This not only saves 300$ a month in fuel costs but 50$ a month that would have been spent by the cafeterias to dispose of their fryillator oil and such. Other interesting tidbits: "Stuff Sales" cut trash production by 200 tons and raised 75,462$ in 2006 between selling the items and saving disposal costs. Rob said: "What gets measured gets managed," and I think it is always important to have good data and figures in any environmental movement. Please look up: recyclemaina.org, the college recycling competition. Competition can foster surprisingly good results, especially amongst students. Rob finished with this quote: "If you are not recycling well, how can you possibly convince people that you have a commitment to sustainability?" One of my big recycling questions lately has been: What are the environmental impacts of recycling processing centers? Don't they use alot of fuel and produce pollution that impacts the environment adversely? Is it even worth it to recycle? Rob assured me that this is not the case and that recycling an aluminum can saves eight times the energy that was used to produce that can. He reminded me also of the cost and harm caused by virgin resource extraction. For more information on these recycling issues I urge everybody to look up the websites for the following organizations: The National Recycling Coalition, EPA Wastewise, and the recycling section of the Environmental Defense Fund. The second session I attended was a Sustainability Indicator Session sponsored by some faculty at UVM. Environmental indicator tracking can help a university to become more conscious of its impacts. As was said before: Data needs to be taken, measurements must be made, for us to improve. To take stock of the impacts of a university is a huge product and one must choose from a great amount of variables: solid food waste, electrical energy consumption etc. Please look up the website for "Clean Air, Cool Planet" if you are interested in tracking greenhouse gas emissions. Also the Energy Star program is primarily an emissions reduction effort, check out: portfoliomanager@energystar.gov for more info. One lesson they expressed was that energy performance can be better improved by management over technology. So for all of those who say we need only wait to the next technological advance to save us, think again. Our technology is nothing if we do not manage it correctly and coordinate in order to optimize its performance. Gotta go to the meeting, more later!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Sustainability Committee goes to the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium 3rd Annual Conference
This morning I realized that I had forgotten to bring a towel with me to New Haven and was forced to dry myself with paper towels in a shower of the Yale dorms. So much for sustainability. As usual, I had gotten off on the wrong foot (my other left one), but, hey, it got me thinking about the issues, which is always a good thing. Blessings, blessings, blessings in disguise.
I arrived in New Haven the night before with our interim president James and we crashed on some of his friends’ futons at Yale. I was still raw from an eerie though somewhat cathartic Halloween and was not quite sure what to expect from the three day conference, “Strategies for Institutionalizing Sustainability in Higher Education.”
After breakfasting on a do-it-yourself egg sandwich (they sell you a container with eggs, tomatoes, bread, and lettuce, all packed separately, must be a New Haven thing… lettuce on an egg sandwich?? Toto I don’t think we are in NY anymore) we made our way over to the Omni Hotel to register and kick things off in style. Professor Nevin Cohen greeted us, seated casually in a comfortable looking armchair in the lobby, and I knew everything was going to be alright.
As usual I ran into somebody I knew (I can’t stop!) in the person of my former camp counselor and friend Josh Viertel. Josh is the director of the Yale Sustainable Food Project which is a happy bit of serendipity as SC is focusing on getting local, organic foods in the New School cafeterias this semester. We all piled onto a biodiesel tour bus and were off!
Our first stop was the Berkeley College cafeteria where Josh’s experiment in sustainable college dining has been in effect for the past few years. The first two years they made this dining hall a pilot project, using 100% local, organic foods. It met with overwhelming success and popularity and they have since lowered the percentage to 40% in an effort to spread the fruits of their labor (ok, ok) throughout the university. Josh took us to the kitchen where it became apparent how difficult it is to serve sustainable meals on such a large scale. Fresh, local produce requires a lot more careful preparation then pre-cut, freeze dried packaged goods. One of the trade-offs is a smaller menu, but it seems worth it when you see how good the food looks.
We then went to Yale’s small off-campus farm where Josh and his friends have been hard at work, growing fresh vegetables for the local farmer’s market. Josh is an eloquent guy, and explained well the delicate relationship between farmers, distributors, and consumers. One interesting point he brought up, which we have been thinking about a lot lately, is the seductive nature of food as an educational tool for sustainability. You can really taste the difference in this food and it drives home the importance of environmental awareness; people should always be conscious of what they are putting in their bodies and where it comes from. He also drove home the point that, while it is well and good to support New England farmers, and cool to have good food at Yale, the true purpose of the project is to raise awareness in an educational atmosphere, especially one that will be producing future CEOs and presidents.
We returned to the Omni where we attended several seminars. I went to two different seminars: “Engaging Students in Sustainable Behavior” and “College-Community Environmental Sustainability Initiatives.” What became more and more apparent to me as the afternoon progressed was the need for community in order to engage students in sustainable practices. We need to do more then just recycle or remember to compost. Sustainability should be more then reprimanding victims of a flawed system for bad environmental habits. It should have its own music, dancing, art, poetry, and food. It should be something exciting that people want to be a part of; a new way of living, one where we feel connection to the planet and each other rather then alienation, dissociation, discord, and melancholy. A good environmental movement should ultimately reaffirm the simple joys of life.
The second speaker, Richard Bowden from Allegheny College, was particularly enjoyable. His organization, Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED) has created a community based on ideals of economic revitalization, environmental stewardship, and education. Some of their current projects are: Arts and Environment Initiative, Creek Connection (an outdoor classroom based around the ecosystem of a nearby creek), Ecotourism, Pollution Prevention Roundtables, Environmental Writing via an online publication called French Creek, and much more. He also explained how his group had formed a state board, the Pennsylvania Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy, dedicated to connecting college environmental action on a state level.
The more I saw and heard today, the more I thought about New School. While we don’t have the science and engineering programs of these other colleges, we still have a lot to offer. We have to go with what we are good at: get people at Lang writing about the environment, get Parsons students designing educational materials about wetlands, just get people thinking about these issues and bringing their own unique skills to the table; that’s how you start a movement…
Had a good talk with Nevin at the reception. Apparently there is talk of a boat building course next semester. Bangin! It’s all part of a new New School Outdoors program where there could hopefully be courses in hiking and biking around the city. I hope it goes through. We also decided that if we ever get a community garden at Lang we should name it Eugene’s Green (note the apostrophe). We dined on a fall festive assortment of orange, green, brown, and red foods from the recent harvest. The moon is bright over New Haven tonight and I’m feeling inspired. Looking forward to the rest of the conference!
I arrived in New Haven the night before with our interim president James and we crashed on some of his friends’ futons at Yale. I was still raw from an eerie though somewhat cathartic Halloween and was not quite sure what to expect from the three day conference, “Strategies for Institutionalizing Sustainability in Higher Education.”
After breakfasting on a do-it-yourself egg sandwich (they sell you a container with eggs, tomatoes, bread, and lettuce, all packed separately, must be a New Haven thing… lettuce on an egg sandwich?? Toto I don’t think we are in NY anymore) we made our way over to the Omni Hotel to register and kick things off in style. Professor Nevin Cohen greeted us, seated casually in a comfortable looking armchair in the lobby, and I knew everything was going to be alright.
As usual I ran into somebody I knew (I can’t stop!) in the person of my former camp counselor and friend Josh Viertel. Josh is the director of the Yale Sustainable Food Project which is a happy bit of serendipity as SC is focusing on getting local, organic foods in the New School cafeterias this semester. We all piled onto a biodiesel tour bus and were off!
Our first stop was the Berkeley College cafeteria where Josh’s experiment in sustainable college dining has been in effect for the past few years. The first two years they made this dining hall a pilot project, using 100% local, organic foods. It met with overwhelming success and popularity and they have since lowered the percentage to 40% in an effort to spread the fruits of their labor (ok, ok) throughout the university. Josh took us to the kitchen where it became apparent how difficult it is to serve sustainable meals on such a large scale. Fresh, local produce requires a lot more careful preparation then pre-cut, freeze dried packaged goods. One of the trade-offs is a smaller menu, but it seems worth it when you see how good the food looks.
We then went to Yale’s small off-campus farm where Josh and his friends have been hard at work, growing fresh vegetables for the local farmer’s market. Josh is an eloquent guy, and explained well the delicate relationship between farmers, distributors, and consumers. One interesting point he brought up, which we have been thinking about a lot lately, is the seductive nature of food as an educational tool for sustainability. You can really taste the difference in this food and it drives home the importance of environmental awareness; people should always be conscious of what they are putting in their bodies and where it comes from. He also drove home the point that, while it is well and good to support New England farmers, and cool to have good food at Yale, the true purpose of the project is to raise awareness in an educational atmosphere, especially one that will be producing future CEOs and presidents.
We returned to the Omni where we attended several seminars. I went to two different seminars: “Engaging Students in Sustainable Behavior” and “College-Community Environmental Sustainability Initiatives.” What became more and more apparent to me as the afternoon progressed was the need for community in order to engage students in sustainable practices. We need to do more then just recycle or remember to compost. Sustainability should be more then reprimanding victims of a flawed system for bad environmental habits. It should have its own music, dancing, art, poetry, and food. It should be something exciting that people want to be a part of; a new way of living, one where we feel connection to the planet and each other rather then alienation, dissociation, discord, and melancholy. A good environmental movement should ultimately reaffirm the simple joys of life.
The second speaker, Richard Bowden from Allegheny College, was particularly enjoyable. His organization, Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED) has created a community based on ideals of economic revitalization, environmental stewardship, and education. Some of their current projects are: Arts and Environment Initiative, Creek Connection (an outdoor classroom based around the ecosystem of a nearby creek), Ecotourism, Pollution Prevention Roundtables, Environmental Writing via an online publication called French Creek, and much more. He also explained how his group had formed a state board, the Pennsylvania Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy, dedicated to connecting college environmental action on a state level.
The more I saw and heard today, the more I thought about New School. While we don’t have the science and engineering programs of these other colleges, we still have a lot to offer. We have to go with what we are good at: get people at Lang writing about the environment, get Parsons students designing educational materials about wetlands, just get people thinking about these issues and bringing their own unique skills to the table; that’s how you start a movement…
Had a good talk with Nevin at the reception. Apparently there is talk of a boat building course next semester. Bangin! It’s all part of a new New School Outdoors program where there could hopefully be courses in hiking and biking around the city. I hope it goes through. We also decided that if we ever get a community garden at Lang we should name it Eugene’s Green (note the apostrophe). We dined on a fall festive assortment of orange, green, brown, and red foods from the recent harvest. The moon is bright over New Haven tonight and I’m feeling inspired. Looking forward to the rest of the conference!
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