How to Truly Go 'Green'

You probably have the tote bag. Or maybe the new coffee mug from Blue Java. Or, if you’re a first year, the Nalgene that proclaims it is “Instant Bottled Water.” And if you haven’t acquired any of this merchandise, you’ve certainly seen the logo—Columbia’s way of jumping on the trendy environmentalism bandwagon, and confirming that Green really is the new Black. But what is Columbia really doing to “Go Green?”

If you can answer that question, I’m impressed. While Columbia has been taking plenty of great steps to increase campus sustainability, finding out about these measures has been difficult at best.

For true environmental progress to be made on Columbia’s campus, there needs to be complete communication between all the parties involved, which essentially means everyone on campus, because these issues affect all of our daily lives. Most importantly, student groups must unite with both each other and with the administration to push for real change.

In the past, student groups focused on environmental issues have not communicated very much. I spent over a semester as a dedicated member of EarthCo before I had even heard of SEEJ. And as a Barnard student, I technically should have been a part of BarnardEarth, but knew nothing about it. Last spring, I heard that Barnard was starting an EcoReps program and was seeking applicants, but I only knew because I happened to be in the right place at the right time. This year, in a major step forward, all of the environmental groups are working hard to collaborate and keep each other informed of all of our projects so we can support each other and act as a united force under the newly-formed Green Umbrella, a coalition of student leaders from each environmental group that meets once a month.

So the student groups are finally communicating. The next step is to work towards constant communication between the administration and students about each other’s environmental initiatives.

First, it is important that the administration keep students in the know about upcoming environmental initiatives, and the “green” things they are currently doing. The places we as students see as areas for improvement are probably similar to those the administration sees. But if a group spends months researching and campaigning for specific changes, only to find out that the same initiative is already coming out of the Environmental Stewardship Office or Housing and Dining, it is extremely frustrating and, sadly, a waste of time. For example, EarthCo was planning on pushing hard to create a biodiesel facility in John Jay this year to convert waste grease into fuel for campus vehicles, only to find out entirely by chance that the used cooking oil is already being donated to the Doe Fund, where they use it to create their own biodiesel. They probably get more out of it than we ever could, and at a lower cost for everyone. And it’s something to check off the list of areas for environmental improvement at Columbia. But if I hadn’t overheard this conversation, EarthCo would, without a doubt, have spent many hours on a project that would have gone nowhere.
What is more, students are also able to see areas that could be improved environmentally in places that administrators cannot, such as the dorms. The administration should capitalize on the student body’s unique vantage point. None of this is to say that students and administrators are acting in total isolation. Most student groups have close relationships with various relevant administrators. But so often we have to actively seek out this information—which can be a difficult process—rather than being included from the start.

Students also need to feel like their individual environmentally friendly habits are being supported by the administration, so they don’t slip into the mind-set of “I’m only one person, so what difference does it make if I throw away this newspaper or recycle it?” As a coordinator of EarthCo and an EcoRep, I constantly hear rumors about green roofs, composting, and biodiesel, but rarely know exactly what the administration is doing unless I meet individually with an administrator. The EcoReps can advocate for environmentally conscious behavior and lifestyles, but it is only effective if the administration constantly reinforces this advocacy, and shows students all of the specific ways it is truly going green.

Because, the truth of the matter is, Columbia has taken a lot of creative and substantial steps to “Go Green.” Did you know that all of the take out containers at Columbia are made from biodegradable corn oil and that no pesticides are used to make our lawns so green? I didn’t, and I wouldn’t expect that your average, less environmentally involved Columbia student would know either. Those are great initiatives, and, as far as I’m concerned, Columbia can brag all they want about them. In fact, I have trouble understanding why they don’t. Not only is it good publicity, but it shows hesitant students that environmental change is really and truly taking place, and that if they put that bottle in the proper bin, it really will be recycled.

So green roofs are coming? All of the cleaning supplies used on both Barnard and Columbia’s campuses are environmentally friendly? Good for you, Columbia! Just keep us in the know. And promote yourselves while you’re at it. These are just the green initiatives students have been looking for and working towards, so it restores our faith in Columbia’s commitment to the environment to know that real progress is being made. Awareness and further collaboration between students and administrators is the only way we can live up to our tote bags and truly “Go Green.”

The author is a Barnard College sophomore.