Student members of the Sustainable Energy Tribe at Georgia State University want you to know that they are not hippies and they should be taken seriously.
“Once people hear what we’re about, they’re like ‘Oh that’s cool’ and we’re like ‘Heck yeah that’s cool,’” said Kelli Craig, SET’s public relations assistant.
During the Spring semester, Earth Week is the organization’s biggest project.
This year, SET will host what is slated to be one of their biggest Earth Weeks yet. They have partnered with the Georgia State’s Office of Sustainability and various other organizations to help educate and promote sustainable energy for students.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TRIBE
“We worked with a graphic design class and a marketing class, so the awesome flyers that you see around the campus are all courtesy of them,” Craig said.
“We’ve had a lot of help this semester, and the Office of Sustainability has done a great job of pulling really cool people for the panels and the discussions.”
One way that members of SET are trying to encourage students to get involved this year is by teaming up with other organizations to educate students about the truth about what they do.
“When people think of sustainability, they think of recycling,” said Justin Brightharp, SET secretary.
“Sustainability can incorporate more than just science. It can tackle social justice, crime, business, law, health care.”
Prior to the opening of the Office of Sustainability this semester, SET was the main voice of the campus’ effort to “go green.” The organization continues to execute several projects and holds events to help educate and promote sustainability around campus.
Members of SET lobbied for the office’s creation along with the green fee in 2013.
Unlike SET, the Office of Sustainability focuses more on campus-wide sustainability initiatives like pushing for solar panels and wind turbines, while SET focuses more on advocating and getting students involved.
The Office of Sustainabilty recently hosted a Green Umbrella meeting, which included representatives from several organizations, including the Nutrition Student Network, the Housing Committee and the Atlanta Herpetology Club.
“It has gotten better and easier just branching out to different people,” Brightharp said.
Along with partnering with school organizations, SET has also attempted to spread it’s word to the city of Atlanta.
Due to Georgia State University’s open campus, many of the sustainable energy projects that SET wants to do have to be approved by the city of Atlanta in addition to the university.
“Emory can be [as] sustainable as they want to, but they have their own campus. We are in a city with an open campus, so ours is more of a battle,” Brightharp explained.
SET was recently able to set up a table in city hall to help spread their mission to many other organizations, some of which are now contributing to Earth Week events this year.
During Earth Week, SET hopes to continue to educate students about what they do.
Earth Week events
SET has been planning all semester to make this year’s Earth Week activities exciting and engaging for students across campus. In celebration of Earth Day, the organization has created a week of green-themed fun and volunteer activities.
Earth Week is already underway, but there’s still plenty of events for you to enjoy! For more information, visit www.gogreen.gsu.edu/earthweek.
Green Concierge Service!
What: SET is going door to door to collect your recyclable cans and bottles.
When: April 22 from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: Patton Hall
Earth Day Festival
What: Green vendors, food, volunteer and internship opportunities and more.
Bring a recyclable or an old t-shirt to participate in the DIY station.
When: April 22 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Unity Plaza
Volunteer Day!
What: GSU Recycling Ctr Volunteer, NSN Garden Plots or
SET Garden Spruce Up
(Participants must pre-register at Earth Day Festival or by emailing sustainability@gsu.edu by 4/22)
When: April 23
Where: Various locations
Put Your Green in Motion: Zumba Outdoors!
What: The Rec Center is hosting two sessions of Zumba outdoors.
When: April 23 at 10 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Where: Unity Plaza
Keynote Speaker Rick Kuykendall, litigator in the BP Oil Spill of 2010
What: Keynote speaker Rick Kuykendall will speak on “The State of Environmental Law Through the Lens of BP” to commemorate the four-year anniversary of the BP Oil Spill.
When: April 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where:
University Speakers Auditorium
Movie Fest
What: SET presents a series of green-themed films for your viewing pleasure.
When: April 24 from 4 p.m – 7:30 p.m.
Where:
University Center 480
Tips For Starting A Garden In Your Dorm Room (Or Other Small Living Spaces)
Starting
a garden is already intimidating without the added pressure of starting
one in a small living space. Some students may live in a dorm room
where their windows don’t even open, and their windowsill is not big
enough to grow a garden full of their favorite fruits and vegetables or
flowers. Fortunately, Sustainable Energy Tribe president Julie Smith
shared some tips for students who need to get around these limitations.
-Use old bottles and cans. Just cut the top off, poke a few holes in the bottom and you’re ready to go!
Why? It’s sustainable and economical
-Start with plants that don’t take up a lot of space and are easy to maintain.
Food: Celery can be regrown from old stalks. Other great options are Carrots, Herbs (Oregeno, Rosemary, Dill, etc.) and Beets.
Plants: Stick with plants that don’t require a lot of water and can survive even if you’re forgetful. Examples include Pansies and Petunias
-Don’t be too ambitious. Start with one or two plants and then expand.
-South-facing windows are ideal for growing plants, but a desk lamp is a suitable alternative.
