Organizations unite to provide conservation and sustainability events to the campus, community

April 23, 2014

By Amanda Ramirez

Reduce, reuse, recycle is a mantra familiar to those concerned with sustainability of the Earth. As Earth Day arrives, students can learn ways to reduce their carbon footprint or simply alter routines to positively impact the environment.

“There are a lot of people that sit around in rooms and talk about doing it, and then there’s other people that go out and actually try to make a difference,” said Wesley Enterline, UW-Whitewater sustainability coordinator.

Enterline has been working with SAGE since July 2008, and he is now the staff co-adviser for SAGE.

As sustainability coordinator, Enterline connects with students and faculty about on-campus environmental concerns or initiatives taking place.

“[Students] don’t really talk to a lot of the custodians and groundskeepers, electricians and plumbers,” Enterline said. “I do a lot of direct outreach and talk about what our department does to make our campus more sustainable.”

Students Allied for a Green Earth is an on-campus sustainability organization that works to gain awareness about environmental sustainability.

The organization consists of mainly students, but faculty, staff and community members also are allowed to participate.

SAGE’s four main principles include: ecological sustainability and awareness; participatory democracy; cultural diversity; and social justice.

“It’s not just about nature, it’s not just about animals, or the trees,” said SAGE Vice President Carol Peretz. “It also has a lot of implications regarding human health and economics.”

Visit SAGE’s Facebook page or follow them on Twitter for initiatives on campus or sustainability tips. SAGE meetings are 5 p.m. on Tuesdays in the UC, Room 261.

Earth Week 2014

Beginning April 21, several student groups and organizations, including SAGE, will host events throughout the week to celebrate Earth initiatives and encourage campus sustainability.

On Monday, SAGE hosted a film double-feature of Chis Paine’s, ‘Who Killed the Electric Car’ and ‘Revenge of the Electric Car.’ Paine is a filmmaker and entrepreneur who tours worldwide as an advocate for the adoption of electric vehicles and sustainable methods of transportation. The event began at 1 p.m. in Summers Auditorium.

The films address the initial failures of the electric car industry and details the resurgence of electric-powered vehicles in recent years.

Then, there was an Advanced Technology Vehicle Show at 4 p.m. outside the Young Auditorium.

The show featured the latest vehicle technologies, such as the Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt, which are leading the way to incorporating electric vehicle technology into modern vehicles.

At 7 p.m., students had the opportunity to hear Paine speak about his experience in the electric car industry and the importance of sustainable transportation.

On April 22, SAGE hosted a Bike Blender throughout the day at Willie’s 360 in the University Center. SAGE members will help serve smoothies and other treats by providing human power, instead of electricity, to subsidize blending devices.

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the UW-Whitewater Cycling Club hosted a Bicycle Recycle event outside on the north side of University Center.

The Cycling Club provided free bicycle checkups and basic maintenance to prepare students for the spring and summer seasons.

In front of Upham Hall, on April 22, the ‘Birds of Prey Exhibit’ featured up-close viewings and meet-and-greet experiences of birds such as eagles, owls, hawks and falcons. Demonstrations were at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.

On April 23, students will be able to volunteer at the Upham Greenhouse from 9 a.m. to noon to experience various features of the campus garden.

Whitewater Student Government will host an EcoFair at noon in the University Center Hamilton Room. The fair will include exhibitors and employers who will offer information about sustainability, and jobs and internships within the field.

Also on Wednesday, UW-Whitewater’s Earth Initiative hosts a recyclable fashion show in Hyland Hall’s Timmerman Auditorium at 4 p.m.

Students can create an outfit made entirely out of recyclable materials. Prizes will be awarded for the best creations.

On April 24, SAGE will host a Pinterest upcycling workshop to provide students with ways they can transform broken or outdated objects into a new creation rather than disposing of the material. The workshop will be held in the University Center Room 259B at 7 p.m.

For a more complete listing of Earth Week 2014 events, visit UW-Whitewater’s sustainability home page.