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