Campus Connection

A new student-run organization—the Graduate Student Environmental Action Coalition (GSEAC)—has been established by several motivated students and staff at UMB, who consider themselves ardent environmentalists. GSEAC represents environmental interests from all over the campus, as students and staff from almost every school at UMB have participated in this new venture.

GSEAC president Kelly Baker says that the main goals of the organization are to “educate the general public about environmental issues, to take part in campus outreach programs and to advocate for environmental changes on campus”.

Even though GSEAC is still in its infancy, they have already organized several events. Some of the members of GSEAC volunteered to help with general trail maintenance at the Patuxent Research Refuge on Earth Day.  In February of this year, the group invited Vassie Hollamon, Associate Director of Operations and Maintenance as a guest speaker to discuss the ongoing recycling programs on campus and the steps taken by the university to reduce its carbon footprint.

The energy consumption per square foot on campus has steadily decreased over the last decade even as the university continues to grow. This can be attributed to energy management programs such as the use of heat recovery systems to recapture energy from exhaust air, improved building designs which utilize less energy, technological advances such as computers and LCD monitors that are more energy efficient, and improved lighting controls. “We are going in the right direction,” said Hollamon, “although more work is required.”

There is a recycling facility on Saratoga St., where items such as mixed paper, cardboard, scrap metal, electronics and mercury from fluorescent lamps are recycled. Hollamon and his staff also attempt to donate any appropriate furniture that is no longer of use to the university. For example, 40 tablet chairs were given to a local fire training academy earlier this year.

Currently, UMB meets all the mandatory requirements for waste management set by the state of Maryland. However, the members of GSEAC believe the university has a long way to go. Baker would like “UMB to become a role-model in the state as an increasingly ecologically responsible business, leading the way by reducing its carbon footprint every year and addressing environmental concerns by making practical changes in policies.”

GSEAC would like the university to begin devoting 1% of its energy budget allocation per year towards purchasing from renewable energy companies with subsequent 1% increases annually. This would gradually reduce dependency on non-renewable sources and at the same time support smaller energy businesses.

GSEAC is also concerned that plastic substances, aluminum cans and batteries on campus are not currently recycled. The organization hopes to work with campus leaders in order to ensure that these products are added to the list of recyclable items.

GSEAC and Hollamon plan on working together to have kiosks installed at various places on campus where students, faculty and staff can deposit old batteries, newspapers, electronics and other items for processing at the Saratoga St. recycling facility.

Baker says GSEAC has plans for several upcoming activities, including a clean-up operation at Druid Hill Park on September 15 (James Rouse Day) and attendance at the D.C. Green Festival in October. The group is looking for more participants interested in volunteering for these events as well as students hoping to further the cause of environmental action at UMB.  

Both Hollamon and Baker agree that they would like more individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and reach out to the community. Simple changes such as using 30% recycled paper for printers and copiers (a goal Hollamon would like to see adopted by all departments on campus), 100% recycled paper notepads, recycling printing ink cartridges, and the purchase of paper cups rather than plastic or Styrofoam are relatively easy to implement while helping the environment. 

Hollamon referred to Neil Armstrong in stating that “if everybody took a small step, that would be a giant leap [towards helping the environment].”

Article Tools