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Ka Leo The Voice > Opinion

Student action creates social change

UHM has the potential to lead people to live sustainably
Published: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Updated: Monday, August 3, 2009 21:08

Ask Liz and Sam

By Juanita Matthews
Special to Ka Leo
Email:
Sustainable Saunders Project
Universities are institutes of higher learning, but most importantly they are promoters of social change. The
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concentration of multiple disciplines - combined with the idealistic passions of students - make change possible. The
fight for women's rights, civil rights and ending the war in Vietnam were all largely dependent on student activism.
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Considering all the issues that presently face us, it is extremely important that students make their voices heard and
set examples that the rest of the nation can follow.
Currently, the state of our environment is a pressing issue that desperately needs to be addressed. Not only can we
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as students bring attention to this issue, we can also provide the model for how it can be resolved. Many students at
the University of Hawai'i at M?noa are trying to do just that - the UHM Geology Club, the UHM Sierra Club and
Sustainable Saunders have started a recycling program here on campus. They have dived in dumpsters, counted
trash, compiled data and serviced bins because they believe in sustainability. With over $1.5 million being spent on
electricity per month, this campus needs students to step up.
Our tuition money pays for air conditioning year round because we get so much sun, but that same solar energy can
be used to power this university. The UHM Sierra Club is trying to promote solar energy and has even started a solar
panel fund. Sustainable Saunders' energy team have examined the energy use at Saunders Hall and have talked with 6
energy project developers about what changes can be done to make the building more energy efficient.
An energy-monitoring program is being put in place at Saunders Hall to determine where energy can be saved and to
provide data about the impact that particular projects will have. One of those projects is the installation of a green roof All fields are required.
on Saunders Hall - one of many around campus that will be used to collect data on which species of plant works best. submit
Our university is supporting these projects and facilitating this change.
This Friday, the UHM Earth Day celebration will unveil a biodiesel generator that will power the two food kiosks in the
Sustainability Courtyard. In addition, experts from the university and the community will come to Saunders Hall and
interact with the public on issues including alternative energy, conservation, environmental justice, green architecture
and whole project financing.
The opportunities for students to get involved in the sustainability movement and voice their ideas and concerns will be
numerous. Senator Russell Kokubun who serves on the Hawai'i State Legislature committee for energy and
environment will be attending as well as Keith Rollman - the sustainability advisor to the mayor. Hawai'i is ready to
make the change to a sustainable way of life.
It is time for UHM students to realize that change is happening here on campus and that the resources are there for
them to become involved. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Ways to get involved

Green Roof Project: Learn all about green roofs and help construct planters for installations on campus. E-mail Leyla
Cabugos at cabugos@hawaii.edu.
UHM Sierra Club: Help make solar power on campus a reality, participate in the recycling program and work towards
providing better food choices for students. Learn more at http://www2.hawaii.edu/~uhmsc.
Geology Club: Make recycling possible by participating in UHM's recycling program. For more information contact Erin
Miller at eemiller@hawaii.edu.
Sustainable Saunders: Connect with people to facilitate your own sustainability project or participate in existing
projects. Work on worm composting, recycling and landscaping with native plants. Bring sustainability to UHM by
showing what can be done with Saunders Hall. For more information, visit sustainablesaunders.hawaii.edu.
UH Sustainability News: For updates related to sustainability activities and events, check out
sustainablesaunders.pbwiki.com.

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