By Rebecca Harrelson, Staff Writer

Published in print Nov 19. 2014

Students and faculty who attended the “What’s Green got to do with it” informational session last Thursday discussed growing environmental issues.

The session, which was hosted by the Office of Sustainability’s intern T’shari White, highlighted several main issues.

The issues included: lack of minority participation in the environmental studies program and sustainability initiatives.

The session also highlighted the issue of environmental justice.

Guest speaker Dr. Bob Davis, a member of the Solid Waste Commission and the chairperson of the Concerned Citizens of North East Greensboro, addressed the issue. 

UNCG’s Office of Sustainability is making efforts to change the way in which students, faculty and staff view the environment.

UNCG defines sustainability as, “Academics, operations, and outreach… conducted with careful attention to the enduring interconnectedness of social equality, the environment, the economy and aesthetics.”

The student organization, UNC-Green, has been making substantial efforts to encourage the university to implement a green fund that would be included in every student’s tuition once a semester for five dollars.

This small fee would enable the Office of Sustainability to carry out initiatives, and to develop and conduct educational programs for students about energy conservation, waste reduction and other environmental issues.

The event also featured other speakers such as Dr. William Markham, the director of environmental studies, and Kala Taylor, an employee in the Career Services Center, who joined together to make a green jobs presentation.

In addition, there was a student panel discussion that included T’shari White and Joe Valdez, both environmental studies majors, and Tracie Baker, an alumnus from N.C. A & T University interning at the university’s facilities office.

The program was supported by organizations such as the UNCG Office of Sustainability, City of Greensboro Recycling Program and UNC-Green. Taylor, Markham, Davis, Dr. Sevil Somnez and Dr. Aaron Allen also made the event possible.

“Programs like this are necessary for students to learn about why the environment is everyone’s responsibility because it affects them in various aspects of their lives,” White said.

White continued, “It is also valuable to inform students about what educational/career opportunities are available.”