Sustainability at UST
Get Involved
Interested in getting involved with the sustainability movement on campus? Check out the links below:
Riding the bus reduces your carbon footprint, saves money, and allows use of your commuting time to read, relax, and enjoy the scenery
In 2009, a coalition of the Green Team, the Students for Justice and Peace, the Biology Club, the Biology Department and the Environmental Studies Program proposed the creation of an organic food production garden on the University of St. Thomas campus. The proposal was approved in the fall and the garden was planted in late spring of 2010 in the backyard of 2140 Summit Ave. 24 separate vegtable plots were planted in a way that tested whether more diverse plant groupings would increase garden productivityfootprint. At the end of the summer, over 300 lbs of produce from the garden was delivered to the Emergency Foodshelf Network in New Hope. The Stewardship Garden set up a facebook page where the community may get a look of the volunteer student involvement.
To volunteer for working on the garden or to find out more about the project, contact Biology Professor, Adam Kay.
The Green Team exists to "challenge St. Thomas to be a more ecologically sound campus and to raise environmental awareness within our community, both on and off campus." The group each semester sponsors the Mississippi River Clean-up in cooperation with the DNR Adopt-a-River program. it also regularly organizes educational activities, which have included the Earth Week Symposium, camp outs and yearly field trips to the Will Steger compound in northern Minnesota and the Anathoth Community Farm, a Luck, Wisconsin, commune focused on maintaining a negative carbon footprint.
The Green Team welcomes new teammates. If you are interested in more information, contact Green Team President, Bridgette Kelly.Undergraduate Student Government: Sustainability Committee
The USG Student Sustainability Committee tackles sustainability issues as part of student government. The committee works to gather UST student sustainable and environmental clubs and initiatives under one umbrella. The SSC has organized events, games, and informational resources during UST's annual celebration of Earth week, the week of April 22nd. In the past, the committee has worked with the UST Food Service to provide reusable drinking containers, available at a discount, at all campus dining facilities. It has also worked with Student Orientation and Campus and Residence Life to educate incoming students and resident assistants on eco-consciousness. It lobbies to reduce UST's carbon footprint and suggest future actions.
For more information about the Student Sustainability Committee, contact committee chair,
Lewis Segl
BEASTBEAST is Bicycle Enthusiasts at St. Thomas, promotes bike culture on the UST campus and in the broader local community by: creating a community bike space, advocating for bikers, supporting commuting by bike, providing maintenance, and safety education. The group also seeks to connect with other bike organizations beyond campus.
In 2008, BEAST initiated the UST bike share program for the university community. The rising costs of gas and public transportation have made transportation unaffordable for many people. The bike share program provides an affordable and sustainable solution to the limited choices of transportation that are currently available. The bike share program allows anyone who needs access to a bike to be able to check out a bike with a bike lock free of charge. To check out a bike, go to the Wellness Center and ask for details.
To get involved with BEAST, contact BEAST President, Chris Antonelli.
Engineers for a Sustainable World
ESW mobilizes students and professionals through education, technical projects, and collaborative action to impact local and global sustainability challenges. ESW's projects for 2010-2011include Blacksmith bellows in Burundi, an evaporative cooler for seed potatoes in collaboration with New Mexico State University, solar dryers for drying breadfruit in Haiti, and the continuing project of producing biodiesel on campus. The club also invites speakers and organizes outings such as this semester's tour of Target Field.
For more information about ESW, contact club President, Hans Rieckmann.
Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, educate and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world.
The Net Impact chapter is part of the Opus School of Business. For more information, contact Net Impact President, Sean Elder.
ELS is the organization of law students at UST interested in environmental law and protection. The club is open to all UST Law School students, faculty and staff. Among their activities are an annual river clean-up and the purchase of SO2 pollution credits with fund raising proceeds.
To join or find out more information about ELS, contact Michael Wietecki.
The Recycling Team are student workers who collect campus recycling, sort, inventory, and deliver recycling commodities to area vendors and processors. These students are employed under the work-study program and work flexible hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
For more information about joining the Recycling Team, contact Bob Douglas
