Sustainable Campus Committee (SCC) Meeting Minutes
Monday, September 13, 2010 ::: UC 333, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Members Present: Mike Panisko, Cherie Peacock, Chris Comer, Sue Malek, Steve Siebert, Mark LoParco, Robin Saha, Vicki Watson
Other’s Present: Rod Parnell (visiting faculty) Anita Keenan (Director Blue Mountain clinic), Christina Voyles
Annual Report Update – (Mike Panisko):
On Friday September 4th, Mike delivered two copies of the Annual Report to VP Duringer, one will be given to President
Dennison. A small pamphlet was developed showcasing SCC highlights, with the intention of giving it to the Presidential
Candidates.
Members Replacement Update (Mike Panisko):
The SCC has been sent a letter of interest from Alan Fugelberg (COT) as a potential replacement for Mark LoParco.
There was discussion on the benefits of having Alan as a representative for both UM administration as well as from the
COT. There was further discussion on revisiting the SCC charter to ensure that “unmet” UM areas are represented, for
example, having an IT or Athletics Department representative and that other areas like Dining Services may not need to
be represented considering sustainability is a large part of their daily operations. General consensus was that in the
future the SCC utilize more outreach when soliciting new members to ensure underrepresented areas of campus are
involved. The motion was put forward and accepted to nominate Alan Fugelberg to replace Mark LoParco.
Mike will step down as co-chair in December, pending input from the SCC.
RELF Committee Renaming, New Members, Update (Robin Saha):
Over the summer there was discussion on renaming RELF in memory of Sonny Kless. The proposed name is the “Sonny
Kless Memorial Revolving Energy Loan Fund” with further discussion planned on whether “memorial” should be
included. Mark suggested a name change of the “Sonny Kless Revolving Energy Assistant Loan” so it would create an
acronym of REAL instead of the current RELF; Robin will contact Sonny’s family again before bringing the suggested name
change to the next RELF meeting and bring back to the SCC for a vote.
New RELF committee members are appointed by the SCC – new members are ASUM Business Manager Trent Hanson still
looking for a student at large. Voting will take place via email.
Revisit Committee Charge and Discuss Priorities for AY (Mike Panisko):
The SCC Charge was read to the group again:
“To identify and recommend to the University President specific actions and strategic plans the University community can pursue to
move the University towards greater environmental sustainability in its operations, research, teaching and service/outreach functions. To
collaborate with on-campus and off-campus groups to implement these actions and plans and sustain them over time. To report to the
campus community on the state of the university's sustainability efforts and on future plans each Earth Day. The report shall discuss
goals achieved, plans for the future and reflection on the ten principles/actions of the Talloires Declaration. This report will be reviewed
by President Dennison and any other interested parties and posted on the SCC website.”
There was discussion on what some new priorities for the SCC might be:
1. Work with groups who want to have a green event on campus.
2. Green purchasing (paper, soy based inks in copiers and printers).
3. Greening IT.
4. Carbon offsetting.
5. Greening of residence life.
6. Expand sustainability speakers on campus much like TED.com (technology, entertainment, design) under
sustainability there are many hits, speakers are given 15 minutes to speak.
The committee will discuss ideas at subsequent meetings and decide what to focus on this year.
Update on next GHG Inventory (Cherie Peacock):
Next one due January 15, 2011. Will discuss further at the next SCC meeting.
Carbon Offsetting via Planned Parenthood (Vicki Watson & Anita Keegan):
Vicki Watson asked Anita Keegan, Director of Blue Mountain Clinic to attend today for the SCC’s consideration of
investing in carbon offsets associated with funding family planning.
The “Optimum Population Trust” have found that every dollar put toward family planning services offsets, bought eight
times the amount carbon footprint reduction as investing in solar energy, and four times the amount in carbon reduction
as investing in wind power. Another group called “Population Offsets” sells carbon offset credits which invest the money
in family planning services where there is unmet need. Vicki suggested investing in local entities providing offsets
associated with funding family planning groups.
Both Vicki and Anita acknowledged that misconceptions that can arise from this topic; Anita mentioned that funding can
be misconstrued as population control and cited the local need for funding of various forms of birth control, and that this
isn’t about targeting overpopulated or poor economic areas. Vicki mentioned that those contributing the least to carbon
emissions and climate change are also the ones who will suffer the most from it and are the least able to afford safe
reproductive services and family planning.
Anita will forward more detailed information to Cherie who will forward it to the SCC for further consideration of
possible carbon offsets. Cherie reiterated that the SCC is aiming to meet carbon neutrality by 2020, purchasing carbon
offsets will be reserved as a final strategy. Cherie hopes the campus will have a discussion on carbon offsets for
educational purposes and with the intention of making purchases in order to attain carbon neutrality.
General Discussion (All):
Cherie nominated President Dennison for an ACUPPC Presidents Award; he’s one of two in the nation who will receive
the award in Denver in mid-October. UM will announce the award publically after the event.
NEXT SCC MEETING: date, time and location TBD