From our group project brainstorming session on Wednesday, I
came away thinking a couple things: 1. We have a real issue and that is how to get passionate? 2. We are behind
a number of methods (protest, twitter/letter campaign, putting on a contest to
raise funds, having a public speaker come to campus, writing a group novel),
but we’re not yet united as to which
cause or what particular project deserves our energy! A number of things were
suggested: collecting oral histories that concern how differing persons
perceive the future; genocide and how to educate ourselves about how to be
critical of the government/leaders/think for ourselves; protecting Barkley
park; studying a community that lives in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant,
and, lastly, researching the pros and cons of a variety of alternate energy
sources/technologies, or inventing new ones!
So, what do we do? It seems like many of you would like to
see something happen on campus; students seem to be your preferred audience? At
the bottom of this post, I’ve attached the Sustainability Committee’s 2013-14
agenda. Take a look at it. We shouldn’t reinvent the wheel.
For class tomorrow (Friday), we need to identify our passions,
think of questions we have, and how to shape those questions into a thesis for
our project. I really like all the ideas so far, but now somehow we have to
either come together as a group or splinter apart like a dysfunctional family
:). Whatever we do, let’s be passionate about it!
I’ve also included key points brought up by some of you
about Iversen’s chapters 4 & 5. Perhaps they will inspire us.
Issues of Justice
Gerard: “I think the story has become less about an evil,
secret government, and more about a government that makes mistakes.” Gerard
Chad: “Ultimately this chapter demonstrated that despite the
immeasurable efforts to prosecute all those associated with the Rocky
Flats debacle they still eluded justice.”
Mike G.: “…if people knew the truth, there would be too much
panic.”
Alex: “The only thing that has changed is that people are
concerned about what is going on and no longer find it acceptable for the
government to cover it up. They want answers. Does this change because there is
a more authoritative figure leading the protest not just average people? I have
found this is something that we see over and over again in the world. There can
be something that needs changing but no one will listen until there is a leader.”
Split Families
Dana: “[Kris] is afraid of following in her parents
footsteps, but she is witnessing it happen.”
Time Passing
Mike G.: “From the beginning of chapter 4 to the end of 5,
Kris's life has changed drastically. At the beginning of chapter 4, she was
mourning her first boyfriends death. By the end of chapter 5, she is married
with two kids! This reminded me of the Parable
of Sower because some chapters would randomly begin with an important event
such as when Lauren’s father disappeared. Just like in Sower, at this point in the story Kris's father is completely out
of the picture. I am very surprised at how much of Kris's life went by without
much detail.”
Process of Writing This Memoir
Diana: “As I've been reading this book, I've thought to
myself about what the purpose of writing a memoir is. For most people, it's a
way to get out your story: your thoughts, ideas, passions, regrets, hopes,
failures, and so on. Memoirs are usually thought to be self centered and solely
about the writer and are presented in a way that makes you understand the
person better. I have realized in the last two chapters that although Kristen
writes about herself and her family and the experiences she's had, I don't see
any self centeredness in her memoir at all. She presents the information as a
matter-of-fact kind of way. She writes facts about the weapons plant alongside
facts about her life but neither overshadows the other. It's obvious by reading
the text that she has been through a great deal of stress and trauma and really
just astonishing events that most of us can't imagine happening to us. She's been
through so much and yet, when she writes her story, she stays factual and
doesn't let her emotions seep in too much where it sounds whiny or overpowering
with depressing material. I'm not at all saying that she is a non-feeling
robot, but I am amazed by the strength she's exemplified by writing her
experiences down this way. I think that Iverson's goal was not to tell about
how hard her life was or a pity party type story to get people to feel sorry
for her, but it was to tell the facts of what happened while she was growing up
in such an awful place full of secrets and traumatic experiences that were
hidden under layers of deceit.”
Audience
Laura: “I honestly feel that Iversen wrote this book for us.
She wrote this book for all the people who would randomly pick it up and those
who wound up having to read it. She wants us to know what happened. She wants
us to know what it is that is affecting our lives today. If it wasn't for this
book, I would never have known anything more about Rocky Flats other than its
name. This was not something that was taught to me in school. I was not aware
of how the government lied to us. I believe Iversen wrote this book in a way
that average everyday Americans could pick it up, feel a connection through
reading of her childhood, and see how much we didn't know and how ignorance is
killing us.”
SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA 2013-2014
Proposed/Possible Priorities and Working Groups
for 2012-13
GHG INVENTORY:
Compile and submit WCU’s second Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which is due to the
ACUPCC by January 15, 2014.
Kaloni Baylor:
Intern
FUNDING:
Identify and recommend budgetary requests to support implementation of the CAP;
investigate internal and external grant opportunities to support CAP and
sustainability initiatives.
ENERGY &
BUILDINGS Advocate for the development of a Campus Energy Policy &
Strategy, a Green Building Policy, an integrative planning process, an
internalized a price for Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and a Green Revolving Fund
TRANSPORTATION
Advocate for the formation of a campus Transportation Committee.
Shuttle proposal
update
PURCHASING Advocate
for the formation of a Sustainable Purchasing Task Group and a Sustainable
Purchasing Policy
SOLID WASTE &
RECYCLING Establish a campus Zero Waste Working Group.
Move Out Program
Update? (Chris Brenner)
FOOD & DINING Collaborate with the appropriate campus units to establish a
Sustainable Food Service Working Group charged with developing and implementing
a Sustainable Food Production and Purchasing Policy
CURRICULUM
Participate in the General Education Revision process with the aim of
developing a program that ensure that all WCU students develop a deep
understanding of sustainability and climate change
CO-CURRICULAR EDUCATION Establish a Student Sustainability Educators Program (Eco-Reps)
and continue to incorporate sustainability into New Student Orientation.
RESEARCH Work to
increase incentives for sustainability research/creative activity
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Increase the number of formal partnerships with the local community,
including school districts, government agencies, non-profit organizations,
higher education institutions, and other entities to advance sustainability
within the community. (per the University’s new Strategic Plan)
COMMUNICATIONS
Website,
E-newsletter, Logo Update (Kristen
Crossney)
August 20th meeting with
Kim Slattery and Tim Ponticello
GROUNDS, GARDEN, & GORDON
Outdoor Classroom
Update: Ellen Keating!
FH Green Roof
Maintenance? – Contract ends in December 2013
GNA Dedication at
Halftime: Saturday, November 9th
Gordon Fest 2013: Wednesday,
November 13th
EARTH Group
News (Kendra Decker, Dominique Hetrick, Mike Bideau)
October 18-21,
2013 Powershift 2013 in Pittsburgh, PA
Next SAC Meeting: Friday,
October 4th 1:00 – 2:30pm Philips 3rd Floor Board Room
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