Sustainability gets green light

Jeremy Hunt

Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: News
Mary Vosevich, chairwoman of the Sustainability Task Force, talks to students about implementing energy-efficient policies at the University during a forum in the Honors Forum Lounge on Thursday.
Media Credit: Harrison Brooks
Mary Vosevich, chairwoman of the Sustainability Task Force, talks to students about implementing energy-efficient policies at the University during a forum in the Honors Forum Lounge on Thursday.

by Jeremy Hunt

Daily Lobo



Students who need a minor and want to fight for the environment have an option in the Sustainability Studies Program.

It is time for students to save the world from disaster, and sustainability is an important part of that, said Bruce Milne, director of the program.

"The globe is facing an impending collapse," he said. "We're in the largest extinction since 65 million years ago when dinosaurs went extinct."

The sustainability program hosted a monthly forum this semester for students, faculty and staff to talk about how UNM can use its resources more efficiently.

The last meeting for the semester was Thursday in the Honors Forum Lounge.

A minor in sustainability was approved this semester, and classes will begin in the fall.

Milne said the courses will be scheduled soon, and students can sign up for Sustainability 134 and 334.

"It's dedicated to sustainability on and off campus," he said.

Milne said the program has come a long way in a year.

It has a turbocharged biodiesel van and is building a solar-powered, mobile information kiosk with exhibits that will give students hands-on experience with sustainability, Milne said.

The program works with the Sustainability Task Force, a committee that is writing a University policy to address energy efficiency.

The task force's goals parallel those of the sustainability program, said Jeff Zumwalt, a task force member.

"We're trying to build a policy that covers the whole University community," he said.

The policy is structured to focus on governance, operations, curriculum and community service, he said.

Zumwalt said it is a work in progress.

"Policies take a long time," he said. "Regardless of the final shape of the policy, we know there are things we can do today to support that policy."
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