Volume CXXXIII, Number 16 February 15, 2002 f

Sustainable Bowdoin gears up
CONOR WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER

Since their well-publicized role in Maine Recycles Week last semester, one of Bowdoin's most active and organized groups, Sustainable Bowdoin, has been working hard to continue its mission. That is, as leader Stacy Vynne put it, "[working towards] Bowdoin having as little impact as possible on the local environment."

"Also, we're hoping we can save money for the school," she said.

School Recycling Coordinator Keisha Payson, who works closely with the student group, echoed these sentiments. "We're working on energy issues on campus, especially conservation…and also looking for opportunities to save money and energy for the school."

Most of all, Sustainable Bowdoin is "trying to highlight the benefits of sustainability to the administration," said Payson. One main push in this direction is the group's work on developing an "Environmental Mission Statement" for the College. Payson's office is working with the Administration Subcommittee Student Group to write a document reflective of student and administrative concerns.

"We're trying to take ideas from different schools…there's only a few out there with strict environmental mission statements," said Vynne.

Ideally, the mission statement will be printed in the student directory, online, and will be prepared in time for President Mills's address to the Environmental Studies Department on March 4.

The group's various subcommittees are working on other projects as well. The Reduce/Reuse portion has introduced reusable lunch bags and coffee mugs to Bowdoin, as well as "Already Been Used" (ABU) paper. The Purchasing subcommittee is researching other, more environmentally conscious paper options besides the Boise-Cascade products currently purchased by the College.

The Earth Week Subcommittee is working on ideas for Earth Day on April 22 and the ensuing week. Thus far, the group is working on bringing speakers and bands to highlight the occasion, as well as having local organic food options in Moulton and Thorne Dining halls. Another proposal would involve a campus party involving organic beer, but the group has yet to commit, citing cost concerns. Sustainable Bowdoin is soliciting ideas for activities during Earth Week; send any by email to eyamada@bowdoin.edu.

The Recycling Subcommittee has also been active, successfully increasing the accessibility of recycling bins on campus. In the near future, it plans to set up tables in Smith Union to loan out bins for personal student use in dorm rooms. Discussions are underway with the first-year student government about putting recycling bins in all freshman dorm rooms by the end of this semester or the beginning of the next school year.

"It's fun…I'm a senior," Vynne said "and four years ago, the school was doing nothing. So it's great to see all of what's happened in just four months."