Sustainability Initiatives in Residential Life
The Evergreen State College's Housing Department has always been in the forefront of sustainable practices, including our outstanding student worker program, our restorative justice model of working through grievance issues, and our long standing recycling and composting efforts. But in this day and age, we could be doing more to prepare our students for the changing world. With current issues such as global warming, peak oil, factory farming, an impending water shortage, overpopulation, and so much more, we could be giving our students new perspectives of how to interact with the world around them. Our focus is shifting towards providing our students with solid living skills and new services for our changing world.
We are slowly incorporating sustainable living practices into our student's daily lives and consciousness. Residential Life has only just begun the journey. In 2006, we incorporated our first sustainable checkout. In years past, scavengers and drifters would find their way to the Evergreen campus to pick through the remains of a year's worth of student living, decreasing the security and safety of our campus, and increasing strangers present. Large volumes of reusable goods were making their way into dumpsters riddled with rubbish, decreasing the value and appeal of these potentially usable goods. Our 2006 sustainable checkout produced 7,680 cubic feet of usable donations, as well as 18 - one hundred gallon bags of usable items of clothing, and approximately 30 larger items such as couches, recliners, coffee tables, futons, and mattresses. Donations supported ten non-profit organizations, mostly those that provide donations free of charge to individuals and families in need. The campaign ran from May 30 to June 30 .
In housing, much less time was spent by residential life staff in collecting, moving, and clearing items left in entry areas and transporting items to trash and recycling receptacles, which had, in prior years, been a major concern. The staff was able to refocus their energy to the residents and in making sure they were making a smooth transition out of housing. Fewer transients made an appearance, and when they did, stayed for a shorter duration than in years past. This greatly reduced the need for campus police presence, as there was only one reportable incident in 2006 compared to an average of six to eight incidents in years past (according to Larry Savage, Emergency Communications Officer). Prior to sustainable checkout, the Fire Department was also utilized by housing in helping to discourage dumpster diving and late night pilfering.
Although the effort was valiant, there is much more that can be done to improve these continuing efforts. Housing will continue to build on the ideas of sustainable checkout, as well as incorporate other sustainable efforts in housing. Housing ResLife staff is currently looking into expanding programs to recycle batteries to residents. Also under investigation is the process for the recycling of printer ink cartridges. A more proactive approach to collecting cell phones and used technology that may be salvaged for reuse in low income areas of need.
We are entering our third year of hosting "theme houses;" the Sustainability House and Community Action House. It will be our first school year to incorporate sustainable issues in our First Year Experience housing. This may prove to be a transition zone for students wishing to live sustainably. Perhaps as we build our program, the first year model could teach our students about sustainable issues and efforts through projects and programming, and Apartment Style Housing could host residents who chose to live sustainably. In brainstorming sessions, many fine ideas have been hatched, including changing the physical structure of a chosen building to support compostable toilets, solar energy, and water filtration systems incorporating grey water. Students could utilize practices such as using the Organic Farm community gardens as a viable food option, and Housing may add volunteer requirements for students who wish to live in the Sustainability House in sustainable living based areas (such as Gleaners). Immediately being put into place is an effort to create a relationship with a faculty liaison for Sustainability House, to assure an educational component to sustainable living and to serve as a connection to the efforts of the campus at large. Ideas are being circulated, perhaps as a project for the students of Sustainability House, for the return of the ever famous Evergreen "free box," perhaps extending donations to predetermined agencies which assist low income individuals and families.
Ideas as simple as including laminated information sheets to all students upon check-in which give simple ideas as to how to save energy in every day living, and perhaps providing students with an electronic sustainability newsletter which could be more involved and discuss such issues as the slow food movement, zero population growth, petroleum dependence restriction and other, deeper issues of sustainability facing the human race today. Based on response to these newsletters, we can begin to create programming specifically organized by the students in Sustainability House. Housing activities such as barter fairs could be encouraged, and the newly formed Greener Living Association could give special consideration to groups, individuals, and events which maintain a standard of sustainability. The possibilities are endless. But the facts are clear. Evergreen's residential team must move forward in this rapidly changing and growing field. Evergreen has historically been on the cutting edge of environmental awareness and social responsibility, and in Housing, we are beginning to step up our efforts to return to the leading edge of sustainable living.
Contact Information: Luda Konshin, Resident Director, Apartment Style Housing
Mailstop A-301, email konshinl@evergreen.edu, 867-5115.
POD Non-Profit Groups
YWCA - women's clothing, cleaning and hygiene supplies (including partially used items such as perfume), arts and crafts/science and tech items
Washington Support Center - men's clothing and shoes, tools, hygiene items, women's clothing
Furniture Bank - small tables and chairs, beds (non king), loveseats (no pull out couches), computer equipment, safety equipment, reusable construction equipment
Appliance Bank - small appliances, housewares
Community Youth Services (CYS) - furniture, bedding, household supplies, kitchenware, food, personal supplies
Gateways for Youth and Families - any clothing items, shoes, bedding, kitchenware
Union Gospel Mission - items for a starter home
Evergreen Vista Apartments (Inter-Community Mercy Housing) - housewares, bedding, clothing (children, middle school)
Done and Done - blankets, winter clothing, food, healthcare, hygiene, camping equipment
Goodwill