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Macalester declares war on 14 Minnesota campuses
Student organizations lead statewide competition to reduce energy use on college campuses
By: Emily Howland
Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
When the lights in thecampus center were suddenly shut off around 6:30 p.m. Wednesdayevening, students eating in Café Mac did not know they wereexperiencing the kickoff event of Campus Wars, a statewidecompetition to save energy started by Macalester students.For the month of Feb.,14 Minnesota colleges and universities, including the University ofMinnesota’s Twin Cities campus and Carleton College, will battle toconserve the most energy based on electricity and heatingmeasurements. Organized by the Macalester Conservation and RenewableEnergy Society (MacCARES) and the Minnesota Public Interest ResearchGroup (MPIRG), Campus Wars is an expansion of last year’s DormWars, in which Macalester Dorms competed to conserve the most energy.
“This involves theentire campus in an institutional effort to fight global warming,”said Timothy Den Herder-Thomas ’09, co-chair of MacCARES.
Colleges are competingfor the greatest percent reduction in campus energy use inelectricity and heating during Feb. 2007 as compared with thethree-year average consumption at that campus during the last threeFebruarys.“It’s a reallyexciting way for very different student bodies and administrations toget behind the same cause and work together,” Louise Sharrow ’09said. Sharrow is the co-chair of MPIRG and has helped organize CampusWars.
The launching of CampusWars is part of a nationwide week of conservation organized by theEnergy Action Coalition, an alliance of organizations that empoweryouth to fight global warming.
The week is the largestmobilization of student climate and energy activists in history, witharound 570 schools involved.
Organizers got thesupport of President Rosenberg, who sent an invitation to otherschools to participate in the event.
Will Steger, a polarexplorer and global warming activist from Minnesota, has backed theevent.
“I am excited tosupport Campus Wars since the initiative is student-directed andinspires action on multiple levels - raising awareness, promotingenergy conservation and institutional change,” he said. “Collegeyouth play a huge role in changing the way we think and act to reduceglobal warming pollution and promote real clean energy solutions.They are the next generation of pioneers.”Sharrow said she thinksthat Campus Wars could have a concrete effect in energy conservation.“If 14 schools cansave five percent of their energy then that can make a realdifference,” she said. “It’s a chance for people to considertheir habits. If you spend a month changing your habits you mightmake a difference.” Den Herder-Thomas said Campus Wars is thelargest collaborative effort in the nation for the week of action.
“It’s hard workingwith a lot of people who haven’t done big collaborative efforts,”he said.Den Herder-Thomas andorganizers began collaborating with other campuses in September. Hesaid he looks forward to building a base of climate leaders with manyof the participants, as well as hundreds of other youth leaders atthe Midwest Climate Action Conference in Madison, Wisc. Mar. 2.
Various eventsdedicated to energy conservation will take place on campus throughoutthe month of February along with the Campus Wars. Results for thecompetition will be collected in March.
“This involves theentire campus in an institutional effort to fight global warming,”said Timothy Den Herder-Thomas ’09, co-chair of MacCARES.
Colleges are competingfor the greatest percent reduction in campus energy use inelectricity and heating during Feb. 2007 as compared with thethree-year average consumption at that campus during the last threeFebruarys.“It’s a reallyexciting way for very different student bodies and administrations toget behind the same cause and work together,” Louise Sharrow ’09said. Sharrow is the co-chair of MPIRG and has helped organize CampusWars.
The launching of CampusWars is part of a nationwide week of conservation organized by theEnergy Action Coalition, an alliance of organizations that empoweryouth to fight global warming.
The week is the largestmobilization of student climate and energy activists in history, witharound 570 schools involved.
Organizers got thesupport of President Rosenberg, who sent an invitation to otherschools to participate in the event.
Will Steger, a polarexplorer and global warming activist from Minnesota, has backed theevent.
“I am excited tosupport Campus Wars since the initiative is student-directed andinspires action on multiple levels - raising awareness, promotingenergy conservation and institutional change,” he said. “Collegeyouth play a huge role in changing the way we think and act to reduceglobal warming pollution and promote real clean energy solutions.They are the next generation of pioneers.”Sharrow said she thinksthat Campus Wars could have a concrete effect in energy conservation.“If 14 schools cansave five percent of their energy then that can make a realdifference,” she said. “It’s a chance for people to considertheir habits. If you spend a month changing your habits you mightmake a difference.” Den Herder-Thomas said Campus Wars is thelargest collaborative effort in the nation for the week of action.
“It’s hard workingwith a lot of people who haven’t done big collaborative efforts,”he said.Den Herder-Thomas andorganizers began collaborating with other campuses in September. Hesaid he looks forward to building a base of climate leaders with manyof the participants, as well as hundreds of other youth leaders atthe Midwest Climate Action Conference in Madison, Wisc. Mar. 2.
Various eventsdedicated to energy conservation will take place on campus throughoutthe month of February along with the Campus Wars. Results for thecompetition will be collected in March.
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