DIRECTOR'S CORNER
From Amy Johns
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Last academic year, the Zilkha Center piloted a new program called “Green Offices” for departments and offices that want to be more sustainable in their day-to-day operations. We’ve heard over the years that faculty and staff often want to be more sustainable at work, but don’t always know what to do or how to do it. Green Offices is intended to support departments by giving a list of best practices, providing ongoing support (by Zilkha Center staff and student employees) and giving a forum for asking questions and suggesting larger campus changes.
Throughout last year, we worked with three departments - OIT, Alumni Development and the Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. We provided a checklist of sustainable options and asked for “sustainability liaisons” in each department. Over the course of the year, the liaisons worked to document their offices’ current practices and to implement changes, and gave great feedback on how the program could be improved. Several offices worked to decrease the use of plastic trash bags by encouraging people to get rid of their individual trash cans and instead use trash containers in common areas. One office has implemented composting and several are considering alternatives to the dreaded Keurig machines, including compostable pods or removing the machines entirely.
The Zilkha Center is planning to recruit up to six more departments for the current academic year, and we plan to offer monthly action themes such as “water”, “waste”, or “energy", with a list of actions to take as a department. We also have a student employee working on the program, and she is eager to help you fill out a departmental checklist, troubleshoot, and research sustainable practices. If you are interested - either as the head of a department or as a possible sustainability liaison - send an email to Amy at ajohns@williams.edu or Mike at mae3@williams.edu.
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MEET THE 2018-2019 INTERNS
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Nandini is a first-year from Shrewsbury, MA. She is passionate about science and writing. On campus Nandini part of the Zambezi Marimba Band and she writes for the Record. Nandini loves learning new things and talking about them!
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Alexa is a sophomore from Southern California. She is planning on majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies with a possible concentration in Africana Studies. Alexa is also figure skater, QSU co-chair, and a trained Doula!
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SEEKING ROOT CO-DIRECTORS
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Root, a Williams College First Days program, is entering its sixth year and is looking for two student co-directors to lead the way. Planning and creating Root is a collaboration among Davis Center staff, Zilkha Center staff, and student directors. The co-directors, in collaboration with the staff, are responsible for:
- Interviewing and hiring the Root leaders for the Class of 2023
- Creating and implementing the spring and fall leader training programs
- Developing and monitoring team rapport among Root leaders
- Planning and running the Root program
- Supporting Root leaders throughout training and the Root program
- Organizing Root reunions during the 2019-2020 school year
The Root directors will need to be on campus to work May 20-25 and return to campus in preparation for Root by August 24, planning to work until September 1. The Root Director position is paid.
You can learn more information about the position and what it entails here.
Applications are due Friday, November 16, 2018 by 11:59 pm and can be accessed online.
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Calling student volunteers! Winter Blitz is a community outreach weatherization program that gets students from Williams, Bennington, and MCLA into nearby communities to help seal up houses to make them warmer and decrease winter energy costs for residents.
The event will take place on Saturday, November 10 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
You would be trained on how to install basic window kits, door sweeps, and energy-efficient light bulbs. On the day of Winter Blitz you would seal up cracks around doors and windows in homes, that untreated would result in heat loss, which drives up energy costs and requires more energy use. Weatherizing homes saves money and energy for residents who otherwise might not be able to and contributes to broader energy conservation efforts. It also helps foster connections between students and local residents.
Sign up here and e-mail Ricky at rt6@williams.edu with any questions!
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At the beginning of October, the Zilkha Center staff and Ceci Del Cid from the Davis Center traveled to Pittsburgh for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education conference. This annual gathering brings together sustainability staff, faculty, some students, and others in the sustainability world to learn, share best practices, and brainstorm new and better solutions. This year's conference was a busy one for the crew as we collectively participated in four different sessions, many of which illustrated the collaborative work that we do with a number of the schools in the Pioneer Valley:
In addition to presenting, we also, of course, attended many sessions. Some of our favorites were Decolonizing a College's Farm to Table Dinner, a panel and conversation about carbon pricing at peer institutions, a half day workshop about race, gender, and class privilege in higher education, and strategies for motivating and persuading people to enhance sustainability communications.
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The ZW Working Group (formerly the Waste, Recycling, & Composting Working Group) is an action-oriented waste-problem-solving group comprised of staff, students, and faculty.
The group always includes members of Dining Services, Facilities Operations, the Zilkha Center, "sustainability liaisons" from the Green Offices program, and students - but it is open to anyone who is interested in learning more and helping to reduce waste and increase waste diversion.
If you're interested in coming to a meeting, please fill out this When2Meet scheduling poll to help us determine our November meeting date and time. Follow this link for more information on past initiatives of this working group. And this one for more info about Waste @ Williams.
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Conversations About Food
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24 @ 12:30 PM - MATT COLE ROOM
The Campus Kitchens Project, Center for Learning in Action, Williams Recovery of All Perishable Surplus, and the Zilkha Center are initiating a discussion about Food at Williams to see where we can all collaborate. If you are interested in finding out more or participating, come bring your ideas to the initial meeting. Feel free to bring your lunch!
2018 Davis Lecture with Dr. Beverly Wright: Environmental Justice and Equity in the Face of Climate Change
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 @ 7:00 pm
The Environmental Justice movement grew out of community activism and advocacy for better standards for protecting the health of people of color and low income communities. Although there were existing laws and regulations designed to protect human health, these protections were not afforded to all communities equally... more
The Quest for Environmental and Climate Justice: Why Race and Place Matter
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 @ 3:00 PM - GRIFFIN 3
Referred to as “the Father of Environmental Justice,” Dr. Robert Bullard has been the leading voice against environmental racism for decades, including the Flint water crisis and hurricane recovery in Houston and Puerto Rico. Dr. Bullard is the recipient of numerous awards, including... more
Williamstown Demonstration in Support of Juliana v. US
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 @ 1:00 PM - FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The Juliana v. US lawsuit, led by 21 youth plaintiffs against the federal government for causing climate change, will go to trial on October 29, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. People in every state are standing up to organize a rally at their federal courthouse in support of these brave climate warriors as they head into court to face the Trump administration. We need your help spreading the word about these rallies so that these plaintiffs know they have the American people behind them! Learn more about the #TrialoftheCentury.
Sustainable Menstruation Celebration
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 @ 4:00 PM - PERRY LIVING ROOM
The Berkshire Doula Project would like to invite you to come join us for Menstruation Celebration on Sunday! We will have a panel discussion along with a Q&A session followed by a menstrual cup giveaway. In order to protect everyone's privacy and provide a safer space, Menstruation Celebration will be a private event specifically for those who have a history of menstruation.
Winona LaDuke: Environmental Justice from a Native Perspective
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 @ 5:00 PM - GRIFFIN 3
Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe) is an internationally acclaimed author, orator and activist. A graduate of Harvard and Antioch Universities with advanced degrees in rural economic development, LaDuke has devoted her life to protecting the lands of life ways of Native communities. She lives and works on the White Earth reservation... more
Discuss Climate Change with Conservation Leaders
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 @ 7:00 PM - CLASS OF '66 ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, 104
Join us for a Skype conversation with Shyla Raghav, Climate Change Lead at Conservation International, and Dr. Susan Cook-Patton, Forest Scientist at The Nature Conservancy worldwide office.
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Friday, October 19 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Creating Better Buildings: Why Energy Efficiency Matters. With Cedar Blazek ’13, US Department of Energy, Colorado.
Friday, October 26 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Offshore Wind in North America – has the time finally come? With Chris Varrone ’85, Managing Director, Silver Leaf Partners.
Reservations found here. If cost is a financial hardship, financial aid students may get a reduced-price lunch at CES office before Friday. Sponsored by Center for Environmental Studies.
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TIDE Grant Program
DUE NOVEMBER 5
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity wishes to announce a new funding opportunity for members of the college community: the Towards Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity (TIDE) grant program. This program is designed to infuse inclusion, diversity, and equity into all aspects of our campus community; grant provides $5,000 in support per project each year. Learn more here.
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Truman Scholarship
DUE FIRST WEEK OF WSP
The Fellowships Office is interested in meeting juniors who are passionate about making improvements in our world. The Truman Scholarship is open to juniors who want to devote their career to service. Candidates from any major are eligible; past scholars have gone into government service, education, law, and advocacy. Contact Lynn Chick, Fellowships Coordinator at mchick@williams.edu.
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PE Course: Farm Fun
TUESDAYS, 1:00-4:00 PM BEGINNING NEXT WEEK
Join Marco weekly at Peace Valley Farm to get your
hands in the dirt and help a local farm get ready for winter. Email Scott Lewis at slewis@williams.edu to
sign up!
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