Doing Our Part: Salem State’s Commitment to Sustainability
- iSSUes Vol. 1
- Dec 18, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 12, 2020
By Leslie Boudreau
In September of this year, Greta Thunberg confronted the United Nations with a plea and a haunting conviction: “My message is that we'll be watching you,” she said of some of the world’s most powerful leaders, “we are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth.”
Words of a 16-year-old environmental activist rippled across the globe; the President of the United States even directed unflattering commentary toward Thunberg following the conference’s Climate Action Summit. This summit quickly transformed into a defining moment that represents the trajectory of a new opinions on climate change. As a representative of “Generation Z”—the demographic which comprises most people born in the new millennium—Thunberg voiced a collective, growing concern about the Earth’s future.
While Thunberg took advantage of a socio-political platform, many individuals and institutions across the globe have taken initiatives to limit toxic products and systems from their day-to-day. Like Thunberg, the faculty and students at Salem State University have been taking steps over the past several years to decrease the school's carbon footprint and spread awareness. The university has developed curriculums dedicated to sustainability, maintained integrity in building new structures and repairing old ones, and works with student clubs to hold events which share the goal of minimalizing our collective carbon footprint in the state.
Sustainable Structuring
Starting in 2012, Salem State began including solar panels on campus, with panels on O’Keefe followed by Atlantic in 2013, and Berry Library, Gassett Fitness Center, and Marsh Hall in 2019. The university also has a goal for all new construction to meet the LEED sustainability standards, and currently has three LEED Gold buildings (the Theater and Viking and Marsh Halls) and two LEED Silver buildings (Berry Library and Gassett Fitness Center).
In addition to solar panels, environmentally sustainable initiatives were implemented into the construction of the North Campus parking garage, which won a Parksmart certification award in 2015 for these efforts. Motion-activated lights, electric vehicle charging stations, and prioritized spots for fuel-efficient and rideshare vehicles are the main features which helped to earn this positive recognition. Recycled materials were used for around 30 percent of the garage’s development.
These initiatives only scrape the surface of all the effort that the university has put into this commitment toward responsible energy. In 2019, the university was awarded $57,000 as part of a multischool initiative to encourage schools to divest from fossil fuels. These funds are being used in the development of scholarships that pertain to sustainable actions.
Coursework and Extracurriculars
Of course, financial encouragement to develop new ideas for environmental action would be less impactful without accompanying opportunities for studies in that area. Salem State offers a slew of ways for students to get involved—namely, their Geography and Sustainability major.
According to the university’s website, classes in this major include Global Climate Change, Geographic Statistics, Digital Mapping, and Research Methods. Elective classes range from Food, Drink and the Environment, to the Geography of the Middle East, to Drones and Aerial Imagery. Offices and resources within the school’s campus include a Digital Geography lab—an office with computers and specialized programs to aid students in completing relevant coursework—and internship/experiential opportunities to help marry the academics to the real world.
Salem State’s Sunrise Movement is foremost among the groups which dedicate themselves to the many facets of effective energy solutions. About this club, the University says, “The Salem Sunrise hub focuses on campus, local, and statewide action to advocate for: the removal of fossil fuel from politics, holding politicians accountable through activism, the promotion of sustainability, and climate change education.” This mission statement provides a glimpse into the many branches of impactful change: energy sources, building materials, and as Thunberg exemplified, political action. The club works alongside MassPIRG, a student-led organization which rallies support for several activist concerns, ranging from sustainability to voter rights and more.
Separately, the school’s Geographical and Sustainability Society emphasizes globalism in the collective effort to repair the harm of environmental toxins. This unique club combines intracultural education with sustainability projects in order to create a microcosmic model for the world around us to follow.
Per the university’s course catalog and website, links to internship and career opportunities help guide students to combine their passions and studies on the topic with realistic career paths.
A Professional’s Perspective
Eager to share important information regarding climate change with students of other areas of study, Sustainability Coordinator Tara Gallagher visited a group of English Majors in the Fall of 2019 for a discussion. She shared that Salem State recently won the Leading by Example award for its collaborative efforts in energy and environmental work. Starting with a review of Thunberg’s United Nations address, Gallagher explained a couple of key technical terms:
· Climate Change: Though this term should not be uncommon, it is important to know that it has taken place of “global warming.” Gallagher emphasizes that the former term eradicates any misconceptions about temperature increases being the only marker of environmental impact on climate.
· The Carbon Budget: This term refers to the official amount of carbon emissions that the global population can afford to release before specific, devastating changes impact global climate. At the U.N. summit, Thunberg said, “With today's emissions levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than 8 1/2 years.”
In her presentation, Gallagher explained that all of Salem State’s efforts to install solar power and reduce our carbon footprint “only meet[s] 4% of electrical demand.” Electricity consumption and transportation statistics account for the foremost ways in which Salem State and its community build up carbon emissions, she explained. However, hope is not lost! Gallagher provided the following information regarding some easy ways for students to continue their efforts toward sustainable practices:
For those who live on campus:
· Watch the thermostat! Keeping windows shut on cold days may seem like an obvious solution to reducing energy consumption; however, it’s so easy to forget to shut a window once it’s open! Keeping a room insulated will help reduce the burning of fuels for heat.
· Surge protectors are an asset! Using regulatory power strips will cut down energy consumption, and are generally safer for electronic devices that stay plugged in.
· Shades and lights: Keeping shades drawn and only using lights when needed contribute to the reduction of heat and energy waste.
For those who commute either to school or work:
· Zagster. This bicycle program allows students to use a bicycle to move around the city for free.
· Zipcar and Shuttle: Though both of these options traditionally contribute to carbon emissions by burning gasoline, the collective nature of these options help to reduce individual carbon emissions.
· Miles2Share: This student-operated rideshare program functions similarly to Uber or Lyft—except that you can be the driver! If you drive a car to campus, you can download this app which searches for nearby students who need a ride to school.
· Spin Scooters: Similarly to Zagster, public scooters are available around the city of Salem at a low cost to users.
Finding Common Ground
As Thunberg’s words resound in our memories, we must consider the differing perspectives that come to play in the fight for global environmental justice. Salem State is fortunate to sit in a politically progressive state which outwardly emphasizes the importance of climate change studies during a time where the future of the Earth’s health is not guaranteed.
Salem State University prides itself in its diverse student body. Demographics include many students of various ethnic backgrounds coming from the state of Massachusetts, other parts of the United States, and may foreign countries as well.
This project started by the members of the Seminar in Modern Publishing aims to give a clear voice to students coming from countries around the world; by listening to their stories from their perspectives, we can understand how differing global opinions and experiences with climate change work to affect political policy.
Related Links:
Professor Stephen Young and two graduate students in the Geography Dept. installed "Climate Change: taking action with modern mapping techniques" at the Cox Reservation Studio Barn, Greenbelt headquarters.
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