Princeton University Office of Sustainability

Meeting to be held at 11am in the Frist 1952 Room.

1. PSC Meeting recap

Began by discussing recollections of the meeting – covering agenda.   Discussed the possibility and value of how to do outreach (visibility) to reach various audiences:   interested students (the choir), students without identified interest in environmental issues/sustainability, staff, faculty.   It was determined that separate events are likely to be the most effective approach and staff may best be reached by scheduling speakers on topics of professional interest (e.g., purchasing experts for purchasing department).   To be discussed further.

Discussion of several issues raised at the PSC are included within the priority list developed below.   Agreed-upon next steps are shown for each issue/project.

2.   Priority Issues and approaches

 

Issue                                         Next Steps

Residential Education          Assembling curriculum – draft to be sent to PEN

                                                  Each group to create a module/group descriptions to be sent                                                   to Wesley/Zakk

 Endowment                          Danny to reach out for PEN working group to draft basic information  needed for larger exploratory group

                                                Looking to create exploratory out of PSC

                                                Option routes to proceed:

                                                (1) focus on environmental sustainability vs. broader

                                                (2) if former (limited context) pursue changes that don’t change returns then branch out

(3) campus-wide campaign

 Green “Center” on campus        OoS to check with Zakk and Carol D on leadership effort on this – will ask them to share what they learn/will do, etc.

Green late meal                          GP on lead à internal sub-committee to create proposal

Water/Bottles                            similar to above

Green Laundry                          GP/Energy Corps – coordinate

Outreach Events                        OoS lead / suggestions

Communication – Internal          OoS set-up Blackboard – for PEN

Communication – External         OoS to set up Facebook

Communication – Sustainability Pledge – after released – USG will look for ways to continue to use…

-wrote down 3 main goals from 10/9/09 meetings, brainstormed specific goals

-Visibility

-Green Space: how to campaign for a sustainability center in Frist: goal to get office space and a permanent meeting space for Green groups, likely we’ll need to share space with student agencies

-We think Sustainability is more important campuswide and should have a place in Frist, compared to student agencies (need to talk to student agencies, could they want to move out of Frist?, don’t want to force them out, should Shana have first discussion with them?)

-Every time we do something, it should be apparent. Bring in someone from communications to a PEN meting know how to advertise our events and how to communicate with the media (ie. The Prince), make a communication plan

  

-Education

-agreement that PEN acting as a consulting group might not work in practice, could alternatively provide a ‘Guide to Sustainable Events’ that we can distribute to student groups

 

-Cooperation

-have a year-long PEN, just because you give up leadership in your organization doesn’t mean you should leave PEN

-focus on water as fall semester’s main goal

-how to green late meal: ban bottled water, get rid of plastic bags, don’t have plastic lids available at food counters, use late meal as a possible case study for how to reduce bottled water across campus

*long-term goal to eliminate bottled water from the Frist gallery, need to find out when the contract with the vendor expires (Water Watch had a problem with this)

-connect with Facilities (EcoReps)

-talk to academic departments, study breaks

-laundry: recommend cold water cycles, have drying racks available to reduce use of dryers, subsidize cost of racks, have better signage up, possibly stickers on top of the machines? Shout colors catchers? (Greening Princeton )

-toilet flushes: do people flush up or down? How to get data on this?

-water quality: students hesitant to eliminate bottled water since they don’t trust the fountain water, need to work with/supporting Facilities to retrofit drinking fountains to have filtered/cold water faucet

-panels of speakers: always provide bottled water, not necessary, why not pitchers?

 

*Going to work on a proposal over Fall Break to deliver at the PSC meeting on Nov. 11, will focus on water and late meal

-will let Stu Orefice, Jeff, and Shana know ahead of time about this proposal so it’s not a surprise at the meeting

 

Group divided up bullet points among groups represented at PEN. The next PEN meeting will be Friday the 13^th, after the PSC meeting.

1. Domanski began the meeting by requesting that each group identify the leadership of their student environmental groups so that the leadership section of the Sustainability website can be updated: http://www.princeton.edu/sustainability/student-initiatives/ The current page doesn't show contact information for the group leaders but perhaps should.

2. Domanski then gave a short historical review (covering the last 4-5 years) of the key role of students and student environmental groups in promoting sustainability at Princeton as an encouragement for continued effort in defining what should happen, particularly in the identifying and promoting policy.

3. The students who attended the Sept 30 PSC meeting shared their impressions of the meeting. It was generally agreed that the meeting provided some good context for recent sustainability efforts but the larger purpose of the meeting was not clear. The working group policy discussions provided little additional clarity. Building on these perceptions, Domanski encouraged the PEN membership to take advantage of the void to take charge of introducing useful concepts to/at the PSC.

4. The group next engaged in discussion on what shape PEN should take. It was agreed that intercommunication among the group was vital and steps should be taken to enhance communication for those in attendance at meetings and those not present. It was suggested that a Blackboard site be set up for use by the PEN membership. [Domanski is taking steps to set this up] It was requested that meeting minutes be posted to a web location. [Now they are: http://www.princeton.edu/sustainability/student-initiatives/pen/pen-meeting-minutes/]
The group then identified four themes for potential collective group action:
(1). Residential Education Program - introduced by EcoReps
(2). Enhanced efforts to increase visibility of sustainability efforts on campus (and beyond) - ideas included space in the Prince(discussed previously), homepage videos, increased use of communications strategies and a physical space/presence in a central campus location. The last idea generated the most conversation and, though no final decision was made, much discussion centered on ways to obtain space in Frist that might include a new home for the Office of Sustainability. Several options were discussed for how to begin the process of gaining approval.
(3). Coordinated effort on sustainability initiatives - including the October 24th Climate Action Day (though there was some discussion of the distribution of task among the groups, it was determined that subsequent meetings were needed to coordinate for this event), a campaign to reduce personal water use on campus (including bottled water); assistance in reducing energy use (e.g., building audits and recommended actions)
(4). PEN as a some form of consulting group (to answer questions, assist in increasing sustainability of events). SURGE suggested a comment box in a central location could assist in this. Domanski suggested that an email address could be used to receive questions to the PEN consulting group (e.g., penconsulting@princeton.edu)
No decision was made on which of these to pursue nor how each could/would be pursued. Further input/discussion is needed.
!

1. The PSC
Domanski began with a discussion of the history, current state, and evolving nature of the PSC, indicating that the PSC is returning to a forum to focus on identifying, developing, and implementing sustainability-related policy at the University.  Domanski encouraged PEN to interact with the PSC and to encourage PSC members to engage with PEN.  Given the nature of PSC meetings, Domanski strongly encouraged PEN members to coordinate to identify/prioritize, as much as possible, the issues to be proposed for consideration by the PSC and possibly forwarded to the Administration.  Towards this end, Domanski stressed the importance of coordinating with the PSC student representatives:  undergraduate students Helen Chen and Derek Welski and graduate student Jenna Losh.
 
2. The shape of PEN
We next discussed the shape that PEN should assume.  While a discussion of a possible agenda/approach that will outline our efforts for the semester/year will take place at our next meeting, I introduced some ideas for consideration and rumination until our next meeting.  These included logistical considerations such as how often should we meet and when should we meet as well as more structural issues which included: how best to stay informed of other groups' activities (Google doc/spreadsheet?  Other form of shared e-document? A blog?); whether PEN should have its own budget for coordinated events; and should the group have a central mission beyond coordination and information sharing (and if so, what should that mission be?). 
Again, PLEASE NOTE that discussion of these issues will be the main agenda item for our next meeting. 
 
3.  Princeton Sustainability Progress Report update
Domanski gave a brief update on the forthcoming progress report (due for release in November) as well as description of the focus of this effort which was to not only update progress on efforts to meet the goals laid out in the University's Sustainability Plan, but to also take a critical, constructive look at all we are doing - and not doing.  I strongly encouraged our group to continue using this perspective as we proceed and to engage in discussion on the issues since we are already in the process of assembling the 2010 progress report.
 
4. Events
In addition to the upcoming PSC meeting (Wednesday Sept 30th), Domanski noted that the High Meadows Civic Engagement proposals are due on October 22nd. 
 
5. Jobs/Internships
A list of internships/jobs and volunteer positions will be posted on the Sustainability website soon.  Though Domanski gave a brief description on a number of positions that will likely be on the list, I'd like to emphasize that we are looking for a PEN member to serve as a volunteer-consultant to assist student groups submitting proposals for High Meadows grants with their proposals and presentations. 
If interested, please contact me.
 
6.  Introduction/Updates from groups
Each member present offered updates on their group's activities with emphasis on near-term activities and needs.  Rather than relisting items discussed at the meeting, Domanski encourages everyone/anyone to use this email chain to send notice of important events or requests for help/input.