Doing Our Part: SSU’s Commitment to Sustainability
Climate Change
by Leslie Boudreau '20
In September of 2019, Greta Thunberg confronted the United Nations with a plea and a haunting conviction: “My message is that we'll be watching you,” she said of some of the world’s most powerful leaders, “we are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth.”
The words of a 16-year-old environmental activist rippled across the globe. Even as the President of the United States directed unflattering commentary toward Thunberg, the Climate Action Summit quickly transformed into a defining moment that represents the trajectory of new opinions on climate change. As a representative of “Generation Z”—the demographic which comprises most of the people born in the new millennium—Thunberg voiced a collective, growing concern about the Earth’s future.
While Thunberg took advantage of a socio-political platform, many individuals and institutions across the globe have taken initiatives to limit toxic products and systems from their day-to-day. Here at Salem State, faculty and students have been taking steps over the past several years to decrease the school's carbon footprint and spread awareness. The university has developed curricula dedicated to sustainability; maintained integrity in building new structures and repairing old ones; and worked with student clubs to hold events which share the goal of minimalizing our collective carbon footprint in the state.
Sustainable Structuring
Starting in 2012, Salem State began installing solar panels on campus, first on O’Keefe, to be followed by Atlantic in 2013, and Berry Library, Gassett Fitness Center, and Marsh Hall in 2019. The university also has a goal for all new construction to meet the LEED sustainability standards, according to Sustainability Coordinator Tara Gallagher, and currently has three LEED Gold buildings (the Theater and Viking and Marsh Halls) and two LEED Silver buildings (Berry Library and Gassett Fitness Center).
In addition to solar panels, environmentally sustainable initiatives were implemented into the construction of the North Campus parking garage, which won a Parksmart certification award in 2015 for these efforts. Motion-activated lights, electric vehicle charging stations, and prioritized spots for fuel-efficient and rideshare vehicles are the main features which helped to earn this positive recognition. Recycled materials were used for around 30 percent of the garage’s development, Gallagher said.
In addition to the Parksmart award, SSU was a recent winner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Leading by Example award for its collaborative efforts in energy and environmental work. In 2019, SSU was awarded $57,000 as part of a multischool initiative to encourage schools to divest from fossil fuels. These funds are being used in the development of scholarships that pertain to sustainable actions.
Coursework and Extracurriculars
Of course, financial encouragement to develop ideas for environmental action would be less impactful without accompanying opportunities for studies in that area. SSU offers a slew of ways for students to get involved—namely, their Geography and Sustainability major.
Classes in this major include Global Climate Change, Geographic Statistics, Digital Mapping, and Research Methods. Elective classes range from Food, Drink and the Environment, to the Geography of the Middle East, to Drones and Aerial Imagery. Offices and resources within the school’s campus include a Digital Geography lab, with computers equipped with specialized programs to aid students in completing relevant coursework, and internship/experiential opportunities to help translate the academics to the real world.
Among the extracurricular opportunities, SSU's Sunrise Movement is a formidable group that is dedicated to the many facets of effective energy solutions. About this club, the University says, “The Salem Sunrise hub focuses on campus, local, and statewide action to advocate for: the removal of fossil fuel from politics, holding politicians accountable through activism, promotion of sustainability, and climate change education.” The club works alongside MassPIRG, a student-led activist organization which rallies support for concerns ranging from sustainability to voter rights, and more.
Separately, the school’s Geographical and Sustainability Society emphasizes globalism in the collective effort to repair the harm of environmental toxins. This unique club combines intracultural education with sustainability projects, to create a microcosmic model for the world around us to follow.
A Professional’s Perspective
In a class visit to the Seminar in Modern Publishing, Gallagher talked about Thunberg’s United Nations address, and felt it wise to explain a couple of the key technical terms:
Climate Change: Though this term should not be uncommon, it is important to know that it has taken place of “global warming." The change occurred to eradicate misconceptions about temperature increases being the only marker of environmental impact on climate.
The Carbon Budget: This refers to the official amount of carbon emissions that the global population can afford to release before specific, devastating changes impact global climate. At the U.N. summit, Thunberg said, “With today's emissions levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than 8 1/2 years.”
It's a vexing problem, considering that all of Salem State’s efforts
to install solar power and reduce our carbon footprint “only meet 4% of electrical demand,” Gallagher said.
Electricity consumption and transportation account for most of the ways in which Salem State and its community build up carbon emissions. So that's where we need to focus. Gallagher suggested the following ways students can increase their sustainable practices.
For those who live on campus:
Watch the thermostat! Keeping windows shut on cold days may seem like an obvious solution to reducing energy consumption, but it’s so easy to forget to shut a window once it’s open! Keeping a room insulated will help reduce the burning of fuels for heat.
Surge protectors are an asset! Using regulatory power strips will cut down energy consumption, and are generally safer for electronic devices that stay plugged in.
Shades and lights: Keeping shades drawn and only using lights when needed will both help reduce heat and energy waste.
For those who commute to school or work:
Zipcar and Shuttle: Though both of these contribute to carbon emissions by burning gasoline, the collective nature of these options help to reduce individual carbon emissions.
Miles2Share: This student-operated rideshare program functions similarly to Uber or Lyft—except that you can be the driver! If you drive a car to campus, you can download this app which searches for nearby students who need a ride to school.
Spin Scooters: Similarly to Zagster, public scooters are available around the city of Salem at a low cost to users.
Conclusion
As Thunberg’s words resound in our memories, we must consider the differing perspectives that come to play in the fight for global environmental justice. SSU is fortunate to sit in a politically progressive state which emphasizes the importance of climate change studies during a time when the future of the Earth’s health is not guaranteed.