LIVEGREEN ![]() |
by Melanie Stewart |
The Campus Planning goal is to maintain the baseline campus density of 73,327 square feet per developed acre. Makes perfect sense, right? I didn't think so. In a nutshell, this goal encompasses the entire campus footprint: building up instead of sprawling out, planning and maintaining quality green space, designing avenues for safe, active transportation on campus, and incorporating high-quality public spaces to encourage interaction and support healing.
Deconstruction processes when buildings are replaced involve recycling used materials instead of sending them to the landfill. These efforts encourage interaction and support healing, making this a better place to work, go to school, and receive care. We have moved away from this goal, but this is largely due in part to the current amount of construction taking place on campus.
The Food Services goal is ambitious: to remove 90 percent of the materials, by weight, from the waste stream. Currently cafeteria/food prep staff is recycling behind the scenes; large tin cans, oversized bottles, and consumer materials are recycled if possible. Styrofoam will be phased out as a part of this goal. The students helped to kick this off by passing a Styrofoam-free resolution and Sodexo already has started the transition by replacing cups and soup bowls with paper versions. Multiple options are being considered for clam shells and other items, helping to meet this goal but still maintaining safe food temperature and infection control standards while allowing food to be transported.
Thank you to everyone who makes this a priority! Keep up the good work.