In June 2007, President Skorton signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, officially making sustainability one of the university's top priorities. By signing the commitment, Cornell pledged to reduce the global emission of greenhouse gases on campus over time.
The Greek community at Cornell represents over 30% of the undergraduate population and represents one of the strongest and most viable routes to help the university achieve its sustainability goals. To help with this initiative, the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Multicultural Greek Letter Council (MGLC), and Panhellenic Association have started the Greeks Go Green campaign.
The Greeks Go Green campaign has three main goals. The first major goal is to raise awareness about the university's commitment to sustainability within the Greek community and show Greek chapters how they can play a role in Cornell's larger initiative. This includes providing chapters with information packets and presentations on easy ways to make their houses more eco-friendly and green. Additionally, rewarding chapters that promote sustainable behavior will help in this effort.
The second major goal of the Greeks Go Green campaign is to provide opportunities to Greek chapters that enable them to partake in more sustainable behavior. Recycling is one of the easiest ways that this can be achieved. Paper, plastic, and aluminum waste collected in chapter houses always need to be recycled. Bins for batteries, cell phones, ink cartridges, and other non- biodegradable items can be placed in chapter houses as well. Water and appliance efficiency is another route that chapters can take to make their houses more sustainable. Chapters need to be aware of how much energy they are using and how they can improve and become less wasteful.
The third major goal of the campaign is to ensure that the Greeks Go Green program remains in place in the future and is up to date with new environmental initiatives. To achieve this, the TriCouncil has been working with the Cornell Sustainability Hub. The Sustainability Hub is a student organization with the mission to raise awareness about campus sustainability, reduce Cornell's environmental impact, and unite other campus organizations to collaborate on different environmental projects.
The Greeks Go Green campaign is a step in the right direction, showing the Cornell community that the Greek system is working very hard to make the campus more sustainable.
For information about Greeks Go Green, please contact:
Christina Copeland, cpc53@cornell.edu
