The Value of Eco-Reps
As we near the end of the 2010-2011 academic year, it's nice to reflect on what we've accomplished as a team. Something I've been thinking about recently is: What are some of the benefits that Eco-Reps generate at UVM? These benefits could be to fellow students, UVM staff, UVM administration, Vermont citizens...
Think beyond just traditional monetary measures. The value of the service you all provide could be thought of in terms of students gaining new knowledge, the university lessening its environmental impact, or residential halls enjoying increased social capital (such as greater community involvement or interaction among peers living together on campus).
posted by UVM Eco-Reps Program Coordinator @ 9:38 AM
11 Comments:
I feel as though the Eco-Reps had a very up-and-down sort of year. There were great accomplishments like solidifying the Eco-Ware program, organizing various successful events, and spreading the word about how to be "green." On the other hand, however, we had some big flops like the waste sorts at the individual ResHalls where only one person came for UHS and I think it was the same case at MAT. I can't speak for the rest of the groups but it seems like next time around, we will have to do some more publicizing and better organizing in order to get more participation from the residents.
That really seems to be the only hitch I can think of so far. As Food Summit week inches by, things seem to be going smoothly (except the one event I could attend got moved — just my luck!) and Earth Week is sure to be a great one next week! As the Eco-Reps program ages, it seems to be having a bigger impact on how the students at UVM think about being green, connect with each other, and connect with the Earth. As the program continues to grow, I am excited to see what it will bring to UVM and the great people that make up the student body, staff, and faculty.
I think that Eco-Reps generate a lot of knowledge across campus about how to lead a green lifestyle. When people learn about composting or CFL light bulbs or how much waste they create daily than I believe that they will carry that knowledge on with them when they leave campus. I have seen the residents in my building grow in their knowledge of composting and I think that they previously didn't know how it worked. Now that they know about it they can teach others how to compost and about how beneficial it is to the earth. I think that the Eco-Reps program covers a lot of material that if you are not an environmental major you might be unaware of and now once Eco-Reps are taught and teach others than people keep learning to lessen their impact.
To me UVM Eco-Reps leaves a unique and important impact on the UVM community, particularly in regard to the direct involvement with on-campus residents within their residence halls. This approach I feel is very rewarding for both Eco-Reps themselves and on-campus students because Eco-Reps are going beyond the general tabling, etc. that many other campus groups pursue and instead strive to make a connection, educate, and inspire. I think this connection echoes through the UVM community and is able to reach UVM staff, too (such as Tom Oliver from University Dining Services or Kate Strotmeyer of the Davis Center). All of these links and more are vital to the continuation of the Eco-Reps Program as well as the ongoing growth and development the University at large experiences in environmental stewardship and education.
Having Eco-Reps on campus helps to generate many positive benefits for the campus community. Eco-Reps work to promote environmentally friendly behaviors in peers, faculty, staff, and local citizens. Everyone shares in the benefits created by engaging in environmentally friendly behaviors. Personally, I often notice and enjoy the sense of community that is created on campus as a result of individuals working together and towards the common goal of reducing the campus's negative impacts on the environment.
I think Eco-Reps are valuable because we have the ability to directly connect with every student on campus about issues related to sustainability and the environment. As opposed to hoping that posters and displays in a public area reach people, we can knock on doors and explain things in a very friendly, personal way.
Also, I think it's great that Eco-Reps go to Hall Council meetings. I know in UHN the Hall Council is extremely welcoming and we've been able to advise them on waste reduction for lots of hall events.
In addition, Eco-Reps can do things like monitoring trash rooms and postering res halls efficiently. While we've learned that energy surveys and water use evaluations are a little more difficult, they still allowed us to have conversations with residents that wouldn't have happened otherwise.
I think that the value of Eco-Reps can be briefly summarized in three terms: awareness, education, and engagement. Though I certainly believe that there is work to be done in increasing the effectiveness and presence of Eco-Reps in the dorms and on campus, I think the program at least begins to fill those three roles for an environmental purpose. Many Eco-Reps events, bulletin boards, etc. are all just designed to raise people's awareness of the issues at hand. A waste sort might not inform people about garbage statistics or the damaging effects of landfills, but it gets them thinking. This is the first step to changing people's attitudes and behaviors. Eco-Reps also work to inform people, everything from just talking to people face-to-face and answering questions, to creating displays or hosting informative events. This is essential for people to make informed decisions about how they live their lives and what they choose to support or protest. I think the last part of Eco-Reps contributes to the university, and an equally important part, is engagement. Eco-Reps work to show that college students do affect the environment! While otherwise students may prefer to ignore the impacts they may have, Eco-Reps shine a light to a lot of issues that other universities don't bother to expose. It mights people engaged by giving them the option to make sustainable choices, whether recycling, using eco-ware, or car pooling. Bringing about any kind of shift in habits or opinions is the essential final outcome that Eco-Reps reaches for, and in at least some aspects, succeeds. In a world full of apathy, Eco-Reps are showing people that their actions matter and giving them the means to make sustainable choices.
Eco-Reps create a good buzz on campus about environmental values, but I feel that our presence could be more well-established. I think if we were more of an official ResLife member, this would help. Also, we need to work on better advertisements for our events.
Some of the pitfalls we have suffered have led to failures in some of our events, such as the waste sorts. Other attempts were successful, though, such as promotion of Eco-Ware (I see people use it all the time). I think the Eco-Ware program is very important in the progression of a more sustainable food system.
I have faith that Earth Week will prove to be successful, especially since last year was a lot of fun as well.
I think that if Eco-Reps had a more established presence on campus, and with a recognizable symbol, we may be able to be more successful in stirring student interest in things that we do.
I think that the Eco-Reps program is incredibly beneficial to the UVM community. Within the residential halls, Eco Reps provide students with the knowledge and tools to become better citizens. They show students that it is possible, and easy, to become more sustainable and be environmental stewards. Eco-Reps provide an environmental education to student who may not necessarily be studying the environment. The program also benefits the Eco-Reps themselves. It teaches them communication skills and empowers them to become active members of their community. As an Eco-Rep I have benefitted in that I've become more optimistic about the general public's interest in the environment. Through tabling and other events, I have learned that many students truly are interested in living more sustainably. In my studies, I have been bombarded with all the negative issues and have felt that most people just didn't really care. The Eco-Rep program has allowed me to connect to student outside of an environmental academic interest and has showed me that there is hope. People do want to protect our earth and minimize their impact. The Eco-Rep program has made me more optimistic.
I think one of the greatest things about being an Eco-Rep is that we get to bring composting into the res-halls. I remember last year being bummed out that I could never compost in my dorm so I love that I can this year!
In general I think we do a good job of spreading ecological awareness around campus through tabling and various res-hall events. For example, I think the the Bulb Swap was especially effective. I believe more activities like that would be beneficial to the program. I think a lot of people still don't even know that Eco-Reps exist and getting out and talking to people one-on-one or in small groups could change that.
I really enjoyed being an Eco-rep this year. I met many new, awesome people, and learned a lot about sustainability at UVM. Thanks for the opportunity!
I strongly believe that the Eco-Reps program is a beneficial feature on the UVM campus. After all, Eco-Reps serve as the link between students and the official people that we usually have the pleasure to meet through guest speakers as all parties involved work toward a good indicator for change. I truly enjoy having the ability to interact with fellow students and hear their questions, concerns, and comments. The Eco-Reps program makes the goal toward sustainable communities easier as it is more personable. After all, it is always easier to communicate with a peer than it is to a staff member of a university.
I feel like UVM students would be very proud of the Eco-Reps program if the program itself were more prevalent in and around campus. The Eco-Reps program certainly exists for the betterment of the campus - it just needs to get out there! That way, UVM students can graduate knowing that they were enrolled and immersed in one of few colleges that had the program!
I think that the Eco-Rep program is beneficial to UVM. As we all know UVM is a “green” school but some students to not partake in the “green” lifestyle, and that is where we come in. We are here to help encourage student about recycling, composting, saving energy, etc. We do our best to make a connection to the students on campus. The Eco-Rep program also teaches us promote environmental success through campus. I think we need to make our presence more known on campus.
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