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DSU Celebrates Earth Day; Go Green Work Noted in two National Reports
Thursday, April 21, 2011
DSU celebrated Earth Day a little early on April 20 with a series of activities that celebrated the University’s commitment to be an institutional example in its “Going Green” efforts (.
The day began with a “Green Eggs and Ham” breakfast followed by a program, both in the Martin Luther King Student Center. The Program featured addresses from DSU President Harry L. Williams, Dover Mayor Carleton Carey and DSU SGA President Kathleen Charlot. Encouraging words also came from Jack Tarburton, state USDA director, Scott Lynch, Delaware Energy Office director, William Neaton, director of economic development for the city of Dover, and Amir Mohammadi, DSU vice president of Finance & Administration.
The program also featured a song and poem performance by the DSU Early Childhood Care Lab School children. A number of environmentally conscious entities set up tables in the MLK Student Center as well. Later in the afternoon, the SGA sponsored a “Campus Clean-up” and the Green Ambassadors student group promoted recycling.
Delaware State University’s Go Green Initiative has been highlighted in the annual report of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) as well as in the Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) Green Report. DSU was among nine that were chosen to be featured out of 660 institutions that have committed to reducing their carbon footprint and aggressively pursue sound environmental practices.
Identified by the ACUPCC as an institution in “good standing,” DSU is noted in the organization’s recently release annual report for being a leading institution in sustainability initiatives. The report highlights the diverse DSU Go Green agenda, including the establishment of a strong steering committee as well as a student Green Ambassador organization on campus.
The report recognized DSU Go Green initiative for being highlighted in articles in Jet Magazine and Black College Today, for having two students selected to be EPA OnCampus Ambassadors to promote environmentally conscientious initiatives on campus, as well as for participating in a side event hosted by the United Negro College Fund and Second Nature during the United Nations’ climate negotiations in December 2010 in Cancun, Mexico.
The recently released MSI report also recognizes DSU as being a charter member of the Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Rating System, as well as being the only HBCU with a representative on the advisory board. The report also notes the University’s distribution of reusable mugs to freshmen, the dissemination of green tips in the campus newsletter,the campus composting of pre- and post-consumer food scraps, as well as a green-office competition.
“We are pleased that DSU’s efforts to do its part to preserve the environment and set an example for other institutions of higher education has been recognized in these two reports,” said DSU President Harry L. Williams. “The University takes it commitment to reduce its carbon footprint seriously and will continue to do so.”
DSU launched its environmental agenda in August 2009 when the institution joined the ACUPCC and soon thereafter established its Go Green Steering Committee.
The DSU Go Green Committee is led by its chair, Vita Pickrum, associate vice president of Development at DSU. You can access a YouTube clip featuring an interview of Ms. Pickrum about the DSU Go Green initiative by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/secondnatureboston#p/c/DC8ECC2654538112/3/9ZNF8YwF5HA. Upon reaching that webpage, click on Ms. Pickrum's photo on the right next to the title "Resources and Support in Fulfilling..."