ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
October 9, 2003
Board Room

ATTENDEES: Dorene Steggell, Bob Jones, Christine Thompson, Anne Forrestel, Kay Coots, J.R. Gaddis, Rebecca Shively, Robyn Hathcock, Karyn Kaplan, Cheri Smith, Ben Ferrell, Chris Jones, Peter Reppe, Jo Rogers, Michael Gilbert, Darlene Schanfald, David Monk, Genevra Csipkay-Biehm, Kit Douglass, Lisa Arkin, Jennifer Hayward

Introductions & Committee Charge

Dorene Steggell welcomed committee members and visitors to the meeting, and distributed the committee charge. Kay Coots then gave a brief overview. The EIC was formed in the late 1980’s. Dan Williams saw the need for a committee to advise him and as a forum for groups involved in environmental issues to share ideas. The committee is responsible for developing the Recycled Paper Policy and played a significant role in the Comprehensive Environmental Policy.

Subcommittees

Dorene outlined some of the accomplishments made last year by the transportation, environmental literacy, Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living (CASL), and education subcommittees. A brochure aimed at educating the campus community on alternative modes of transportation was developed last spring to be sent out with parking permit renewals. The education subcommittee hosted a table at Earth Day. Christine Thompson developed the self-guided campus sustainability tour brochure. A UO sustainability web site was designed and is being maintained under the direction of Kay Coots at EHS. Initial contact was made to invite David Orr next year to help promote an environmental literacy curriculum requirement. CASL received endorsement from numerous campus and community entities and made progress toward obtaining a site. Two additional subcommittees were formed during the year, one to help develop a wood product purchasing policy and the second to promote hiring a sustainability coordinator.

Sustainability Telecast

Comments: It was a good introduction to sustainability. The panel focused on campuses and why higher education is so important. When students have the opportunity to learn about sustainability and other environmental issues while attending the university, they will become more effective and conscientious future leaders? Making the invisible visible regarding what is already being done on campuses and to exhibit leadership by example is critical. They also talked about the need for campuses to be more proactive. The purchasing power of universities should not be underestimated.

Potential Agenda Items for 2003-04

• Environmental Literacy Curriculum Requirement
• Invite David Orr or other Guest Speaker
• Sustainability Coordinator Position Transportation & Parking
• EIC & Sustainability Web Sites
• Promote Energy Conservation Promote
• Bio-diesel Fuel
• Improve Compliance with the University’s Recycled Paper Policy
• Reduce Mass Departmental Mailings
• Establish Quantifiable Goals Work Toward Restorative Goals (a step beyond green campus)
• Good Company Assessment & Benchmarking
• Update Building Project
• Requiring Building Projects to Follow Sustainable Development Guidelines
• Increase Student Involvement on Issues Campus-wide
• CASL

Note: The Comprehensive Environmental Policy addresses and supports many of the above listed issue. More information may be found on HERE on the EIC web site.

The next Environmental Issues Committee meeting will be held from 9:30 – 11:00 am. on Tuesday, November 11^th, in the EMU Board Room