Green G zette
Spring 2011
The Earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness PSALMS 24:1
Let the fun begin...
Creation week calls Baylor students to go green for God
Today marks the start of Baylor’s
Creation week celebration.
An annual event produced by the Baylor
Sustainability Committee, Creation Week
allows students and faculty an opportunity
to go green for God.
The
committe
says Sustainability at
Baylor is not about
a carbon footprint or
a political agenda.
Jessica Oen, assistant
in the Sustaniability
Department says it’s
about not taking the By Ashley Ohriner
earth for granted.
“We must understand that it is our job
to care for creation; to utilize it, but also to
sustain it,” Oen said.
This years Creation Week is celebrated
with the goal to raise awareness at Baylor
about sustainability.
“What we have been given, we are
called to care for,” Oen said. “When did we
decide that creation was purely functional,
verses displaying the glory of our God?”
Smith
Getterman,
Director
of
Sustainability on campus said Creation
Week gives students a chance to lead others
in an important direction.
“This is a watershed moment for
Baylor’s campus—to have students in a
leadership position for the first time putting
together and hosting a week of events
celebrating God’s creation,” Getterman
said.
The committee said Creation Week is
something Baylor students can apply to
their lives off campus, too.
“Caring for creation can be made into
practices that we can follow each day.
The week will focus on different themes,
with Monday being stewardship, Tuesday,
recycling and Wednesday, alternative
transportation.
The Student Sustainability Advisory
Board will have a booth at Dr. Pepper hour,
where they will address recycling issues
facing Baylor campus.
Various student sustainability
Monday 18th
Tuesday 19th
Wednesday 20th
3:00-4:00pm
Dr. Pepper hour
and
Sustainability
initiative presentation
by on campus groups
Barfield Drawing
Room.
11:00am-1:00pm
Sustainability
Presentation by Local
Waco groups
and
Acoustic Performance by
Uproar Records Artists
Vera Martin Daniel Plaza
9am-12pm
Sustainability Booths
Waco Hall
Sustainable lunch
Penland
7-9 pm
Food, Inc Documentary
and discussion
SUB den
Collins Sustainable
lunch
Photo illustration by Lauren Tremor
organizations will also be available to
speak to students.
The committee encourages Baylor’s
Please see Creation Week, page 3
Memorial Creation Week
Celebration lunch
One man’s trash ...
Nonprofit organization donates used
shoes, brings new meaning to ‘green’
By Leigh Anne Henry
Contributor
Ten years ago, recycling
meant separating your plastics,
paper, and aluminum into blue
crates every Sunday. Today,
“going green” is a lifestyle in its
own.
One World Running, an
organization that donates used
shoes to those in need, and
Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program,
which recycles used shoes, are
two organizations bringing
new meaning to the green
movemement.
This
years
Bearathon
participants were encouraged
to bring an old pair of shoes to
donate the used pair to these
organizations.
Donations like these have
been encouraged in the past,
with last year’s efforts collecting
more than 50 pairs of shoes.
Lizzy Davis, director of
Student Foundation, said by
the time a runner finishes a
marathon, typically running
shoes have reached their
maximum mileage, rendering
the shoes useless for another
marathon but optimum for
charitable donations.
“Typically when I am done
Photo by Baylor Sustainability
with a pair of running shoes I
just throw them away. It feels
great to be able to pass them
on to someone in need instead”
said Junior and avid runner
Jessica Foreman.
If the shoes are no longer
usable, and cannot be donated
to One World Running, they
are sent to the Nike Recycling
Center, where they are broken
down into separate parts to
be recycled for other uses.
The parts can be used to
make courts, tracks, fields and
playgrounds.
Students can find a shoe drop
off center near them at http://
oneworldr unning.blogspot.
com/p/drop-off-locations.html.
Bearathon joins Baylor sustainability effort
By Leigh Anne Henry
Contributor
Running tends to be thought
of as a “green sport”. But
marathons are different. In a
marathon, thousands of paper
cups are thrown into the street
throughout the race, leaving
behind a wake of litter.
In an attempt to combat such
waste, on March 19 Baylor
Student Foundation hosted the
ninth annual Bearathon and for
the first time it will be cup-free.
Bearathon is a 13.1 mile
half-marathon
spanning
between Baylor, Cameron Park
and downtown Waco and has
been labeled “the toughest halfmarathon in Texas.”
Almost 1,400 participants
signed up for the 2010
Bearathon, which was canceled
due to inclement weather.
A cup-free Bearathon will
save more than 28,000 paper
A cup-free Bearathon will save more than
28,000 paper cups from littering Waco streets
and landfills.
cups from littering Waco streets
and landfills.
HydraPour is a hydration
system allowing for a cup-free
race and was introduced in 2009
at the Road Race Management
Conference in Florida.
The
system
requires
runners to carry their own
method of hydration (the new
HydraPouch is suggested). As
runners navigated the course,
designated fill stations equipped
with a HydraPour dispenser
allowed runners to press their
container against it and fill their
cup quickly without slowing
down.
“Bearathon being cup-free
is such an awesome thing. It
has a positive impact on the
environment and a positive
impact on Baylor students since
the money earned goes toward
scholarships,” Michael Horne,
co-race director for Bearathon,
said.
Race organizers had planned
to implement the Hydrapour
system in 2010, but the
canceling of the race meant the
eco-friendly solution could not
be tested.
The
cup-free
racing
technique was first applied in
July 2009 at the Liberty Run in
Colorado.
Lizzy Davis, director of
Student Foundation, said the
goal is not only to keep streets
clean and avoid filling landfills,
but also to help teach runners
better habits they can use in
other races.
Many of the largest
marathons in the country, such
as the New York City and
Boston Marathon have begun
using the HydraPour system,
but nearly 50,000 runners
makes the application of an
entirely cup-free race hard.
The inventors of the system
say they hope runners who learn
these habits and begin using the
system will apply eco-friendly
methods at other marathons.
Bearathon is the largest
fundraiser
that
Student
Foundation holds each year,
with proceeds being funneled
back to Baylor in the form of
student scholarships. 2010
race Proceeds totaled nearly
$20,000 in scholarships, which
provided aid to about 100
Baylor students.
Meet the Student Sustainability Advisory Board
In accordance with its Christian mission and vision, Baylor
University strives to be a community that fulfills its calling as
stewards of God’s gift of creation.
As such, the purpose of this University-wide policy
on sustainability is to acknowledge a commitment to
fostering a community that focuses on preserving
natural resources, safeguarding quality of life,
advancing economic vitality and preparing
students for the social, environmental and
economic challenges of the future.
Therefore, this policy calls upon all levels
and constituencies of the University
to participate in a continuous and ongoing effort to institute the teaching,
research, and practices of environmental
sustainability and to establish an
institutional culture of sustainability.
Nick Pokorny
Classification: Sophomore
Hometown: Rowlett, TX
Major: Political Science and
International Business
Angela Gray
Brianne Bidwell
Classification: Graduate student
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Major: Masters of Business
Administration
Classification: Junior
Hometown: Corpus Christi, TX
Major: Bioinformatics
Jimmy Britven
Classification: Freshman
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Enviornmantal
Science
Catherine Sotelo
Classification: Freshman
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Major: Enviornmental Studies
It’s easy being green
By Sydney Joseph
Contributor
“Going green” isn’t just for Washington
politicians and protesting activitsts
anymore. At least that’s what Corpus
Christi Junior, Angela Gray said.
Gray, the newly
elected
Executive
Vice
President
believes students at
Baylor can take up the
sustainability cause
too.
“I feel that ‘going
green’ is important
to me because of my Christian faith,”
said Gray. “As Christians, we are called
to take care of the creation that the Lord
has blessed us with, through any means
possible.”
The Baylor Sustainability Committee
added blue recycle bins throughout campus
this year to make it easier for students to do
their part to recycle.
“An easy way I contribute to recycling
on campus is by using the trash cans for
paper, aluminum cans and plastic bottles.
They are located in every building on
campus” said Gray.
Like many students, Gray tries to carry
her green living habits into her life outside
of Baylor.
“When I’m at home, I make sure that
I turn out all of the lights in the rooms
I’m not using.” Gray said. “I also try to
take fast showers, to conserve water. If I
am going to a friends house, I will walk
there instead of driving my car a couple of
blocks.”
Gray says caring for the environment
doesn’t have to be a complete lifestyle
change.
“I personally make small efforts and
implement incremental changes in my
lifestyle to be more sustainable” Gray
said. “You don’t have to drive a hybrid to
‘go green’. I actually drive a huge truck!
You simply need to be an individual who
is concerned with caring for the Lord’s
CREATION from page 4
students and faculty to use alternate forms
of transportation when possible. Taking
the bus, walking, or riding a bike can
significantly reduce emissions.
Junior business major, Catie Rensink
said living green has helped her cut down
emxpenses too.
“I don’t want to spend my money on gas
all the time,” Rensink said. “I guess if I can
save money and help out the environment,
it’s a good idea.”
For a full schedule of this years Creation
Week events, students and faculty are
encouraged to visit www.Baylor.edu/
Sustainability.
story written in collaboration with
Sustainability Committee.
Gray
Photo by Hunter Oliver
External Vice President, Angela Gray
talks sustainability’s new role at Baylor
creation, and willing to do your part in
preserving the world around us.”
After a 79 percent lead in the election
for External Vice President on Thursday,
Gray has more influence now than ever
before.
“She is involved in so many
organization,” said Alex Bell, a junior
business major. “I think the sustaniability
committee is just one more thing that she’s
Uproar Records
&
Baylor Sustainability Present:
13 teams will design, build, &
model their garment made of
recyclable material at the
concert & compete for a
chance to win $500, a photo
spread in The Baylor Lariat.
General Admission General Admission + CD
$5
$7
Barfield
Drawing Room
April 27th
6:30 p.m.
Advisory board helps students live green
The Student Sustainability Advisory Board is giving Baylor
students a voice in the university go green initiative, which
involves issues such as water and electricity conservation,
“green” education, and recycling.
Members of the advisory board say the group’s goal is to
plan and outline steps to help students
and faculty at Baylor integrate green
living in their campus lives.
The board’s has noticed a need to
make the university “oso green,” said
Smith Getterman, the universities
official Sustainability Coordinator and
faculty advisor. Oso green, a reference
to Baylor’s Diadeloso, meaning “Day of
the Bear,” has become the committee’s
slogan.
Getterman
Many Baylor students have noticed
changes brought about by SSAB throughout campus, and say
the members have done their job to promote green living.
“Apart from making me literally throw my trash away, I
don’t know what else they can do that they aren’t already,” said
Ben Horseman, a junior philosophy major.
The committee began their year long event campaign
in January with RecycleMania, a 10-week competitive
program that encourages universities to recycle waste through
competition. While Baylor recycled 450 tons in 2010, SSAB
hopes to improve the number this year.
“Without the SSAB we [the Student Sustainability
Committee] wouldn’t have the amount of success that we
have,” Getterman said.
In a continued effort, on March 22, Baylor participated in the
United Nations World Water Day, where they refrained from
all irrigation. Designed to acknowledge and promote awareness
of the eminent water crisis throughout the world, the WWD
program involves universities and colleges throughout the
world.
“I feel like we have more responsibility toward other people
than toward the earth itself,” said Thomas Carlson, a Baylor
religion student. “Water conservation is at the forefront of that.”
Today marks the start of Creation Week, where students
will have the chance to visit “green” booths. All activities
are designed to promote green initiatives and educate students
about sustainability at Baylor.
The ten members of advisory board individually represent
various niches within the Baylor community, including Net
Impact, an international nonprofit organization that strives
to better the community through positive leadership, and the
Sustainability Committee. Nick Pokorny, a sophomore and
chair of the board says the group’s diverse members have been
beneficial to the group.
Photo by Baylor Sustainability
A Baylor student carries her moving boxes to recycle bins set
up by the Advistsory Board on move in day 2009.
“We range from freshmen to seniors, which makes it easy to
educate other students at every level,” Pokorny said.
“All the different divisions on the Sustainability Committee
send a representative and that person is able to go back and, you
know, tell everybody what we’re doing and get their division
to buy into it so that helps us kind of spread the message of
sustainability,” Getterman said.
The committee’s initiatives can be seen throughout the
semester through their education campaign, consisting of screen
savers in the library, posters around campus, and sidewalk chalk.
While the SSAB meet once a month, they also encourage all
students with concern or who are interested in discussing plans
for increasing sustainability around campus to join.
“If you want to join a board or committee, the biggest thing
is, don’t keep it a secret,” Getterman said. “Be active, we’re
always on the lookout for active members.”
Visit the Baylor Sustainability Facebook page at Facebook.
com/Baylorsustainability, follow them on twitter at osogreen
or visit their webpage http://www.baylor.edu/sustainability.
7 ways green is gold at Baylor
Blue recycle bins can be found throughout the Baylor campus.
Recycle paper, plastic, and empty cans instead of throwing them away.
After all, green is gold at Baylor!
Go paperless! Every ton of paper (220,000 pages) saves 17 trees!
Last out, Lights out means turning off your classroom or office
lights when you leave. Even for just a few minutes, this practice
greatly reduces energy waste on our campus.
The Baylor Bear Trail is 2.25 miles that stretch around our beautiful campus.
Save your gas money and the environment. Walk to class!
The Baylor University shuttle (BUS) is a free ser vice that provides
transportation to Baylor students. Ditch the keys and hop on board!
In 2008, 42,000 fewer styrofoam boxes were used in dining halls across
campus. Eco-go-shells are available for free at every residential dining
hall at Baylor!
Less than 15 percent of the 30 billion water bottles bought per year are recycled!
Pick up a reusable Baylor coffee mug or water bottle to reduce your daily waste.
Baylor University students are encouraged to join mission trips during Spring, Summer
and Winter Break. Visit www.baylor.edu/spirituallife to find out how you can spend
your break helping others find theirs!
Editors
Green Gazette
Ashley Ohriner
Katie Brown
Lauren Tremor
Staff & Contributors
Writers
Sydney Joseph
Jessica Oen
Leigh Anne Henry
The staff of Green Gazette ask you to help Baylor go green by recycling this newsletter