The campus environmental organization Green Gallaudet planned the activities, joining 1,700 schools, organizations, and businesses nationwide to draw attention to global climate change. While most Focus the Nation programs took place on January 31, Gallaudet's included four days of lectures, panels, workshops, and other educational events.
Presentations by faculty included an overview of current issues related to climate change. A blue bus powered by vegetable oil and solar energy that traverses the country came to campus to demonstrate practical applications of alternative energy. And a Green Fair with businesses like Greater Goods and Green Pets showed the campus community environmentally friendly choices for the kinds of products they buy every day.
During a "green panel," members of the community observed that green attitudes and practices are already coming into play. Dr. Melodye Batten-Mickens, executive director of Faicilities and director of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), cited the environmentally friendly products Facilities is purchasing and the hybrid SUVs and ethanol-ready vehicles that DPS has added to its fleet. Mickey Fields, director of Facilities, said he is working to achieve gold level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the James Lee Sorensen Language and Communication Center (SLCC). Gary Aller, executive director of Business and Support Services, recently named Jessica Frank, an incoming senior, to fill the new position of environmental intern. She is working on projects such as establishing a committee of faculty, staff, and students to take action against greenhouse gas emissions, addressing Green Gallaudet infrastructure, researching campus recycling, and developing a new environmental website.
From Gallaudet Today - Fall 2008 - p. 7
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