A Climate Neutral, Reduced Waste Commencement/Reunion

The Environmental Legacy of the Class of ’07:

Members of this graduating class have played a critical role in placing Oberlin College in a leadership position on environmental issues. During our years at Oberlin, we have worked to develop and implement the Comprehensive Environmental Plan adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2004. We have successfully advocated for the purchase of Green Energy, for the adoption of a green building policy (LEED Silver), for the hiring of a full time Sustainability Coordinator and for the development of a standing committee of students, faculty and staff to oversee the development and implementation of environmental policy. We have helped to build the Campus Resource Monitoring System, have swapped out more than 2,000 inefficient light bulbs, and have worked to assess the feasibility of wind power for Oberlin. We leave future students with plenty of work ahead of them, but we have much to be proud of.

One of the initiatives that we can be most proud of is our activism and collaborative efforts that encouraged and enabled Nancy Dye to become one of the first college presidents to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment. This commits Oberlin to a process that will eventually achieve a climate neutral campus – zero net emissions of climate changing greenhouse gasses. This will be accomplished through energy efficiency measures, the purchase of energy from renewable sources, and other strategies that reduce greenhouse gasses on- and off-site.

Greening Commencement & Reunion Weekend:

This year marks the first of a five-year plan to make Oberlin’s Commencement/Reunion Weekend climate neutral and will serve as a test case for the wider campus initiatives. Throughout this celebratory weekend, we encourage you to keep your eyes open for signs indicating environmental initiatives.

Green Graduation Initiative:

• Graduation pledge : Seniors donning green ribbons on their robes have committed to taking environmental and social considerations into their careers and lifestyles.
• Graduation programs are printed on “Environment,” 100% post-consumer paper
• Recyclable paper napkins printed without artificial dyes or harmful chemicals
• Compact florescent lighting , which uses significantly less power for the same amount of lighting, will be used in outdoor fixtures
• Service-ware and waste : plastic-ware replaced with bio-ware. Bio-ware manufactured by Nature Works and made from an annually renewable resource, corn. Nature Works uses up to 68% less fossil fuel energy than traditional plastics and is fully compostable. While the bio-ware will still be placed in a landfill this year due to the lack of an on-site grinder, it will break down in a way that is not as harmful to the environment. Also, because the bio-ware weighs less, there will be approximately 165 fewer pounds of waste in the landfills.
• Local and organic foods : Campus Dining Services anticipates providing meals to seniors, their families and alumni this weekend that contain between 20 – 35% local foods. Local farmers will provide mesclun salad mix and asparagus, as well as wine, honey, salt, herbs, vegan pasta, vegan beet sugar, mushrooms, water, cheese, breads, and desserts. Local meat and dairy products will include antibiotic free, vegetarian-fed chicken; hormone-free milk; and antibiotic-free turkey.
• Composting demonstration at select meals.
• Carbon offsets: Opportunity for guests to purchase carbon offsetsfrom Carbon Fund to negate the greenhouse gases emitted while traveling to Oberlin
• Student hired staff to oversee and administer the various environmental efforts throughout the weekend

Some Practices to look for at Future Commencement/Reunion Weekends:

• An on-site grinder, which will allow us to compost all food wastes, bio-ware, and paper products without contributing to landfills;
• The creation of a Ride-Share Web site which would allow parents and alumni coming back for the weekend to easily find rides and carpool from around the country;
• Bus-carpooling from local hotels to Oberlin.

What can you do to contribute to the 2007 Green Commencement/Reunion Weekend?

• Visit the Office of Environmental Sustainability’s Green Education Booth at Commencement/Reunion Headquarters in the Science Center.
• Make a donation to offset the carbon dioxide emitted during your travel (can be done at the Green Education Booth).
• Enjoy a walk to the arboretum, entrance on South Professor just south of South Street
• Go to the Green panel that will be featuring talks by Oberlin alumni and graduating seniors. This will be held on Sunday, May 27, at 4:00 p.m. in Hallock Auditorium in the Adam Joseph Lewis Center.
• Be sure to place recyclable items in their proper receptacles around campus.
• Review the energy use in your residence hall over the weekend with Oberlin’s real-time Campus Resource Monitoring System: www.oberlin.edu/dormenergy/.
• Walk to events around campus, when possible, instead of driving.
• Seniors who pledge to model sustainability either through their job or lifestyle will wear a green ribbon during the Commencement ceremony. (Ribbons and pledges will be available at the Senior Dinner.)

We thank you for your support and look forward to making Oberlin a greener campus!

 Thanks also goes to everyone who helped organize and participate in making this
Commencement/Reunion Weekend so green:

Andrew deCoriolis ‘07 and Maria Stamas ‘07
Office of Environmental Sustainability
Campus Dining Services and Bon Appétit Management Company
Green Commencement/Reunion Committee
Oberlin College Alumni Association

Special thanks to Bob Haslun, retiring Secretary of the College