2008 Woodie Awards
De Anza students WISE up
IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN; CLUB HAS ONE PRACTICAL SOLUTION
Mariya Kisina
Issue date: 6/19/06 Section: Features
|
The Earth Awareness and Action Club has a new sister: WISE 37. WISE means Working to Institute Sustainable Environment in our 37th parallel.
Inspired by the De Anza College's Environmental Studies Internship class, President Liz Nevigato and Vice President and Event Coordinator Alanna Baumert started the club to promote sustainability.
"The main goal of the club is to advocate a lifestyle that minimizes environmental impact," Nevigato said.
The Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies influenced the founding members as well. Baumert said the center should serve as a model for all other buildings.
Representatives from various University of California campuses visited the Center to explore how it operates with the sun's energy and features such as its toilets and windows, Baumert said.
"In the Kirsch Center we're trying to change the world," Nevigato said.
Through the internship class, Nevigato got the first idea for missions to accomplish including securing organic food on campus.
Nevigato said she and others figured that since the Kirsch Center is all about sustainability, it is only natural that its food should be.
She said club members have conducted surveys to determine the demand for organic food on campus and have stipulated that the need is high.
Additionally, they tested various organic foods in the Center to see what people liked. WISE 37 has teamed up with the Nutrition Club to achieve their goal. Baumert said the Palo Alto school district sells organic food while the college does not.
De Anza would be the first community college to get organic food, Baumert said.
The club is working with Patrick Gannon, director of the Campus Center to further the cause, discussing whether students would be willing to pay a little extra for organic food.
WISE is also considering doing a composting project and going on a field trip to compare organic and conventional farms.
WISE 37 is planning a T-shirt contest in which participants are graded on the creativity of their design depicting awareness of sustainability.
However, organic food on campus is at the top of WISE's agenda.
"We're trying to focus on one thing and leave a steady trail for the next leaders," Nevigato said.
Club membership is free. The club meets twice a month officially while unofficial meetings are more frequent. Both meetings usually take place in the Kirsch Center.
For more information, contact Nevigato at lizabeth.nevigato@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story