Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Nov. 11, 2005, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 NEWS Nov. 11, 2005 Sustainable energy comes to Guilford College Laura Blythe-Goodman Staff Writer The Pines, the environmental-themed alternative house, is working with the col lege to reduce their energy usage. The Pines residents are still deciding between wind and solar power as an alter nate source of electricity. Currently, the two most likely options are NC Green Power or Transferable Renewable Energy Credits (TRECsV The idea behind the project is to figure out how much of the campus' energy the Pines uses and then to offset that amount by buying that much in green energy cred its. They are starting the project now because of how it fits into the Strategic Long Range Plan (SLRP) the college is cur rently implementing. "This all ties into the Strategic Long Range Plan," said junior Tristan Wilson, "which has Section 3.1 about ethical pro curement, which means looking at the com panies where Guilford gets everything and making sure that they're ok on a social jus tice level and not just a financial level." Jon Vamell, Director of Facilities and Campus Services, has worked with the Pines on conservation before, and was happy to talk with them about their new project. "Sustainability is actually something we spend a good deal of time on," said Vamell. "We've been steadily making improve ments, such as the Sustainability Committee - made up of. faculty, staff and students - which was designed to give a voice and inertia to sustainability on cam pus." Another reason the Pines sees this as a strategic time to go ahead with this proj ect is because "it's becoming more eco nomical to buy renewable energy, especially with NC Green," said Pines resident Ian Breckheimer. The project grew out of the Pines' con cerns about issues of social justice related to the environment and their constant goal to minimize their effect on the environment. "The energy we use affects the health of everyone in North Carolina," said Breckheimer. "Mountaintop-removal coal mining, which is the most prevalent form of coal mining on the east coast, makes for worse air quality and devastates the com munities that they extract their coal from. Another big thing is fossil fuel-produced The Pines is looking to reduce energy consuption electricity releases a lot of chemicals that lead to global warming." Although this project is based in the Pines, the residents look forward to work ing with the campus. "We're starting to work with the administration to make sure that what we're doing with the Pines is sav ing the most energy possible," said Pines resident Parks Marion. The members of the Pines want to work with the campus because they see this proj ect as benefiting not only the environment but also the college. "Renewable energy can be a drawing point," said Breckheimer. "It's a good marketing tool." Although the administration does not have room in the budget to buy TRECs, the members of the Pines are working on ways to raise capital to get the project started with the hopes that it will perpetuate itself once it gets off the ground. Senior Laura Wigand, who helped the Pines with research, explained the process that will have to happen at Guilford for this project. "There is going to have to be up front money and a commitment on the part of the college to continue paying for green power," said Wigand. "Energy awareness campaigns have been done at other schools really successfully. It's about getting it into the culture of the college and normalizing energy savings." Pines resident Eliza Hudson wants to get the community involved in this project. "We want to work with the campus to take little steps to have a big impact," said Hudson. Vamell pointed out that the Pines is only a "small percentage of the total energy usage" on campus, and that education efforts on campus-wide energy reduction are also important. Sophomore Jalika Street is part of one such energy usage awareness project for her Environmental Studies class and hopes "to educate people and further energy-con servation knowledge. "§€ Tutu “an inspiration” Continued from page I his audience. Tutu conveyed the desire to heal in South Africa by showing love even to those who did his people the most harm. "Even the worst of us," Tutu said, "still remains a child of God." He and Nelson Mandela declined to hold Nuremburg-like trials, preferring to move on and commence the rebuilding process. "After hearing him speak, I have a better appreciation, for who this man is and where he comes from," said Miller. "It is amazing what he did for his country and the people of South Africa in one of the country's worst phases in its history!" Laughter filled the auditorium during the Archbishop's lively and heartening lecture. Applause, a standing ovation, and a yearning for more ended the night and his lecture promptly at 9 p.m. This is one speaker who left a lasting impression on his audience. "He is an inspiration," said Mortensen.S§ Students discuss gender-blind housing "He is an inspiration," said Mortensen Continued from page I sexual assault would increase. As addressed in the official petition put forth by Benson and Norton, this opinion assumes that women are the victims of assault by men. This ignored the possibility of same-sex sexual assault. The petition reasons that if opposite-sex roommates could mutually request to be rcx)mmates because of feelings of safety and trust, then that would actually decrease the chances of assault. The option is not going to be offered to incoming first-years, not because of their age, but because of their lack of knowledge about dorm life. The option will also not be applied to random roommate assignments. The goal of this petition is to create a more diverse, comfort able, and safe living environment - random roommate assignments with mixed-sexes would endan ger that safety and comfort. Benson and Norton found 14 colleges that already offer mixed- sex housing, including NYU and Sarah Lawrence College. Also noted in the petition, Quaker col leges Haverford and Swarthmore offer gender-blind housing. All colleges that present the option of mixed-sex housing have reported no significant problems with the arrangements after being contacted by Benson and Norton. Senate passed the gender-blind housing petition on Nov. 10 Students may email Anya cling the campus shortly: one for Benson and David Norton via those in support of the proposal their Guilford email accounts at and one for those interested in abenson@guilford.edu and dnor- participating in mixed-sex hous- ton@guilford.edu, respectively. ing arrangements. §§ There will be two petitions cir-
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