By Lauren Smith
Publicity Director/Lifestyles Editor
When I first transferred to Marywood in 2008, I had a public relations class with Dr. Sadowski of which one of our assignments, aptly named “Go Green”, was a group project involving students pitching ideas on how Marywood could become a greener campus.
Almost two years later, I’m amazed at the progress Marywood has made in their quest to become a greener, more environmentally sustainable institution. One of the biggest and well-known steps is the addition of the School of Architecture — built with “green” architecture principles as well as the focus on those same principles that will be taught to their students.
With environmentalism and the “Green” movement becoming increasingly more widespread and popular, an article from www.treehugger.com listed statistics from a Princeton Review survey showing that 68 percent of college-bound students factor-in their potential university’s environmental awareness when selecting a college. With this in mind, universities and colleges need to adapt to this change, or be left behind.
While the School of Architecture may be the biggest step Marywood has taken in becoming a greener campus, there are several other examples that can be found throughout campus which are the stepping stones to a greener future for Marywood.
Some of the newest practices, starting this semester, are the new bookstore and low emissions parking policy. The University Bookstore recently adopted the policy of phasing out the use of plastic bags in favor of reusable, biodegradable totes. As a way to encourage the use of the new totes, the bookstore is handing out “Go Green” punch cards with each tote purchase, which after ten uses, you get a free Marywood tee. Security’s new low emissions/fuel efficient parking policy includes the addition of three designated parking spaces for those with vehicles that qualify.
Other examples of Marywood’s green awareness include:
- The Arboretum, one of only 89 officially named in the United States, with more than 100 types of trees.
- Marywood’s own student environmental group, Pugwash, dedicated to helping the University become a greener campus.
- Marywood Magazine is printed on recycled paper with “ecoink”, a vegetable oil-based ink.
- As of last year, the President’s Annual Report was made available exclusively online, eliminating the need for the traditional 40-page book of which 32,000 copies were distributed.
- Exploring the use of mine water as a renewable energy source.
These are only a few examples of the green practices that Marywood has decided to adopt. Not only do they impact the Marywood community as a whole, but by fostering an environmental conscience in it’s students, eventually impacting the entire world around it.