Green Innovators Multimedia Project: April 2010

April 30, 2010

Greeks Go Green-Print story

Hely Forrester

April 25, 2010

Jour 102

“Greeks Go Green”

News Story

The 1^st Green Cup was awarded Thursday, April 22 to the ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi and the men of Delta Psi. The Green Cup is a competition between on-campus fraternities and sororities to determine who is ‘greenest.’

The Green Cup competition is a partnership between the Students for a Green Campus, Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council, and the Office of Sustainability. Fraternities and sororities who participated this spring submitted plans to make their Greek houses more sustainable.

“We were really interested in just seeing what each organization had planned and how they were going to execute them,” said Sarah Gehring, a member of Students for a Green Campus.

While only a few sororities and fraternities competed this spring, the competition in the upcoming fall semester will include every IFC and Panhellenic organization on campus.

“We are really excited about the fall competition,” said Gehring. “It will really be interesting to see what each sorority and fraternity turn in.”

In the fall, each organization will submit a portfolio containing plans for: recycling and waste reduction, energy and water conservation, at least one Eco project and a green committee or leader.

“Organizations should start putting their portfolios together now so they will be ready for the fall competition,” says Gehring.

Many sororities have already begun brainstorming ways to make their organizations more sustainable for next semester. Houses have been reducing their use of Styrofoam at meal times and started recycling more often.

“We are planning on switching to reusable plastic cups to use in the dining room to reduce our use of Styrofoam starting next semester,” says McKay Wommack, a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

The Students for a Green Campus believe that the Greek-wide involvement in the Green Cup will influence non-Greek students to come out and learn about sustainability.

“Since so many students look up to the leaders in the Greek system we feel that this will be a great influence on the entire campus,” says Gehring.

Students for a Green Campus will continue to spread the word about living green and involvement in the Green Cup Competition when the fall semester begins in August.

RACHEL JAckson and darren- REBEL PETALS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEo3Qs5eKXQ

April 29, 2010

paper on video

Morgan, Margaret Ann

Jour 102, Swain

April 29, 2010

Styrofoam Goes Greek

When one walks onto the campus of the University of Mississippi, beautiful scenes of nature are found in every direction. However, if one reaches anywhere near Sorority or Fraternity Row, almost every hand will be holding a Styrofoam cup.

Many people think of Styrofoam to be a convenient way to “eat and run”, and it is that, indeed. On the other hand, Styrofoam has a terrible effect on not only the Earth but also an individual’s health. Styrofoam is not biodegradable and it is a carcinogen, filled with toxins that are released when heated. Many do not think of this when picking up a Styrofoam plate, but the facts are there.

The problem with Greek houses using Styrofoam is that the amount of Styrofoam wasted is enormous. Ole Miss is approximately thirty percent Greek. Multiply twenty-two houses by roughly 200 students, and the result will be the number of Styrofoam cups used per day on average- 4,400! That means that during a regular school week including lunch and dinner only, 44,000 Styrofoam cups are being thrown away. This is an astronomical amount of trash that will never go away, rather just continue to pile on top of the landfill (not to mention the Styrofoam plates and bowls!).

The majority of the Greek community is not aware of the damage Styrofoam has. The fact that Styrofoam is convenient and insulated is what continues to draw people. However, we as a society must stop being lazy and realize that convenience does not trump a healthy environment.

When asked how Greek houses can help to reduce the use of Styrofoam, one sorority girl said that her house is beginning to use biodegradable cups. Other houses are pulling out their dinner plates and cups and learning to cope with an increased use of the dishwasher. The real problem with switching from Styrofoam to plates or paper is the cost. Styrofoam can be bought in bulk for much cheaper than any other form of dinnerware. Expenses at the Greek houses are high enough, so some would just as well stick with Styrofoam than increase the members’ bills.

Whether one realizes it or not, Styrofoam use is on the rise and so is the damage the Earth is receiving. Styrofoam is user-friendly, but it is not eco-friendly. As classy as Greek life is supposed to be, why would the members not want to use crystal china?

“Oxford Scene Goes Green”

Rachel Batten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQhNYjHpzCw

“Oxford Scene Goes Green”

Sustainability efforts continue to be a high priority in the city of Oxford. Businesses, community members and students have contributed to “Going Green,” over the past year.

One of the biggest contributors to making greener changes in Oxford has been several of the restaurants and bakeries around town.

“In the last year Boure’ has made several changes in not only how we recycle, but also the products that we order,” said Austin Sumrall, cook at Boure’.

Boure’ recently switched their Styrofoam to-go products to an eco-friendly, recycled cardboard to-go box. They also stopped using Styrofoam cups and now purchase cups that are made with a type of plastic that is produced from recycled corn.

“Through these minor changes we have completely eliminated the use of Styrofoam in our restaurant,” Sumrall said.

Other restaurants in Oxford have made the same changes with their to-go options. 208, Prime, Honey Bee Bakery, Bottle Tree, Snack Bar and Two Stick have eliminated Styrofoam from their restaurants.

“I have worked at Honey Bee Bakery for the past several months, and since I have started, we have always recycled and provided recyclable to-go products for our customers,” said Katie Hewes, employee of Honey Bee Bakery.

Establishments such as Honeybee Bakery, Bottle Tree, and Emileigh’s Bakery also continue to conduct “Greener” business by baking their products in store. This not only cuts back on fuel for delivery but also cuts back on toxins that are involved in delivery.

“Recently I have been more concerned with the choices that I make when finding places to eat and considering which restaurants are going green,” said Don Lazarus, Oxford citizen. “I notice when places have gotten rid of Styrofoam products and appreciate that. Little changes like that can help the environment tremendously.”

Supporting local farmer’s markets not only increases sustainability efforts, but increases the well-being of the economy in town. Several restaurants in Oxford have begun ordering vegetables, fruits and dairy products from local farmers.

This initiative also cuts back on fuel, and supporting the local farmers keeps them in business, which keeps the earth in a healthy rotation of production.

“Snack Bar buys their products from Vann’s Farm and Brown Family Dairy, both local establishments,” said Mitch McCauly, Snack Bar employee. “Doing this continues our efforts for a green business.”

Many restaurants in Oxford have also put a stronger focus on recycling in the past year, with not only their paper, glass and plastic products, but cooking oils as well.

“We recycle the plastic containers that many of our ingredients come in such as plastic and glass jars,” Sumrall said. “However, we also have a cooking oil vat located in the back of our store that we collect used cooking oil in. The oil is picked up and recycled at the end of every month.”

The future of Oxford’s restaurants looks good in regards to sustainability efforts. Recycling and cutting back on energy can significantly help the environment of the city of Oxford as well as beyond city limits.

April 28, 2010

Thrift Stores! Go Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YtspOZmFp0

styrofoam goes greek

Final OUT Bus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=freNohfHg9c

Chesney Hellmuth and Tate O'Connor!

Print Freecycle-Whitney Moore

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure is an old adage which is the basis for a modern way of giving and helping the environment at the same time. The Freecycle Network is an internet site that offers items that would normally go in the trash to people who can use them.

Freecycle began in Tucson, Ariz., in 2003. Founder Deron Beal was working for a nonprofit organization that offered free recycling to businesses around Tucson when he developed the idea for Freecycle. Beal noticed the businesses were throwing away many useful items. Instead of tossing them, he and his co-workers would drive around to other nonprofits to see who needed the items. Thinking of ways to make the process easier, Beal began to use emails to match items to people who need them at no cost. Beal set up the original email list for The Freecycle Network on May 1st, 2003. The list soon grew to a public forum where anyone could give away items.

Freecycle has since spread to over 85 countries, with thousands of chapters hosting millions of members. There are 39 groups in Mississippi. The Freecycle Network estimates its users save 500 tons of garbage a day from going into landfills.

The goal of Freecycle is to keep useful items from reaching landfills. For a person to begin using Freecycle he or she has to register with the local chapter via Yahoo Groups. The local chapter can be located by going to www.freecycle.org and typing in a city.

Once registered, a user will post a message about an item he or she is looking to give away. The item can be anything that would otherwise go to a landfill, clothes, boxes, scrap metal, etc. When the item has been spoken for, the user posts a message telling everyone else the item is no longer available. The person picking up the item will meet the user giving it away.

In addition to posting items, users can post messages saying they are in search of items. This works the same way. Users will respond if they have the item for which the person is searching. All items must be given away. No money is allowed to be collected for items posted on Freecycle.

Each chapter has a moderator that oversees the messages sent. The moderator checks all messages, especially the ones by new members, to ensure proper Freecycle standards are being met. These standards include, only offering things which would otherwise go in landfills, the frequency of people requesting items, and whether or not an item is being offered for money.

Chris Boothe is the moderator for the Oxford chapter. All new members are monitored to confirm the rules are being followed, Boothe said. Messages sent by new members must first be approved by Boothe before being posted. After a trial period, the member can automatically post messages without approval, though messages can be reviewed by the moderator at any time.

“There are rules people have to follow, and there are reasons for those rules. For example, we don’t allow pets to be offered. Many times pet offers come through and I have to reject those.

“The main restriction is the item must be family friendly, or it is refused. Also, money can’t be mentioned. If someone offers to sell or trade, I’ll edit those messages to pull out the money portion of it,” Boothe said.

Services are also prohibited from being posted.

“The Freecycle guideline is to only offer items than would otherwise go in a landfill. Services don’t fit in that category,” Boothe said.

Boothe said in larger cities people post curb alerts, though it is not used in Oxford.
“People will put a message on Freecycle saying ‘I’m putting a couch on the curb’ to warn people if no one has gotten it within a certain amount of time the trash truck comes through,” Boothe said.

Even though Freecycle involves meeting strangers to exchange items, Boothe said he does not feel that there is a safety risk involved, especially in a city the size of Oxford.

“We are a small community. I don’t worry about safety so much. Some of the bigger communities probably do. Whenever I’ve done the offers, I’ve had people I don’t know come into my home. People are generally good. I haven’t heard any horror stories.”

Michelle Chatham, a member of the Oxford chapter, said she loves the idea of Freecycle.

“I think it’s a fantastic program. It promotes the spirit of charity and giving. Hopefully, it makes people stop to think before throwing away useful items,” Chatham said.