Month: March 2017 (Page 2 of 3)
This semester, ATO of Massachusetts GreEco-Reps Grace Aro, A17, and Matt Stewart, A19, initiated the chapter’s first semester-long environmental challenge. Members are encouraged to incorporate environmentally friendly habits into their daily routine, and are awarded a certain number of points for each eco-friendly act they perform.
Points are tabulated by Aro and Stewart, who keep track of the sustainable acts through Snapchats from members. At the end of the semester, the member with the most points wins a prize of their choosing. Each member receives one point and a “Green Greeks” sticker for their first green act, and then one point for each act thereafter. For example, requesting and using a compost bin for your apartment, dorm, etc. is ten points. Compost bins are worth the most points because one of the GreEco Rep goals for this year has been to get all the houses with GreEco Reps to compost. Additionally, having a compost bin is more work than most other sustainable tasks, and Aro wanted that level of commitment to be recognized.
This semester, the GreEco Reps are encouraging their communities to try small actions that can be done every day. However, Aro finds that for some, doing these things feels inconvenient or difficult to remember. To combat this, Aro was inspired to start a competition. She realized that members would be more likely to be convinced to make small, positive changes to their daily routines if they could win prizes. According to Aro, the competition is popular so far, with 18 active participants and 5 new composters, although members need the occasional reminder at weekly chapter meetings. Since Aro and Stewart brought the idea forward, Delta Tau Delta and Chi Omega have started their own green competitions.
As we in the U.S. have shifted into a further mechanized world and moved into urban and suburban areas, we have separated ourselves from our food web and the impacts it has on our communities. On March 26th, Ganei Beantown: Beantown Jewish Gardens will be hosting the Boston Jewish Food Conference—Community Networks: Exploring our local food web. This day-long event will facilitate discussion of “food sourcing, distribution, and consumption, as well as the role of culture, institutions, and our homes” through several workshops and a Community Celebration. Our own Education and Outreach Program Administrator, Shoshana Blank, will be speaking on a panel about the individual actions and organizational changes within Tufts University to reduce food waste.
This conference is a wonderful opportunity to explore the ways we and our local communities are involved in our larger food and agriculture systems. Nourishing ourselves from within these systems impacts the ecosystem of many parts of our country and is a large source of greenhouse gases and fossil fuel emissions. We are a part of this system, and as a community, can work to create positive, sustainable change.
Eco-Reps serve all 16 halls that have RAs, including Blakeley Hall at the Fletcher School. A parallel GreECO Rep program serves the Greek Life Community.
What can I expect?
Eco-Reps participate in a week-long training during new student orientation, come to 1.25 hour weekly meetings throughout the academic year (on Wednesdays during open block from noon-1:15pm), and work 3-5 hours per week in their dorm. Eco-Reps are paid $11/hour, and area leaders paid $11.25/hour.
At the weekly meetings, the Eco-Reps learn about environmental issues, how Tufts and other entities try to combat these issues, general event planning techniques, community-based social marketing strategies, and other topics of interest.
Eco-Reps run events individually and together, plan and lead behavior change campaigns in the dorms, maintain compost bins and bulletin boards in their dorms, collaborate with RAs and student groups, write weekly blog updates, participate in personal challenges, go on field trips, learn about sustainability and environmental issues, put up posters and signs, go to hall snacks, meet with duty teams, send out e-newsletters, make friends and generally have a lot of fun!
We encourage all interested students to talk to the Eco-Rep in your dorm to get an idea of what is involved. Your Eco-Rep can also provide a recommendation for you. If your dorm does not have an Eco-Rep, contact the Eco-Rep Coordinators for next year at applytuftsecoreps@gmail.com or talk to any of the current or past Eco-Reps listed on our website. You may also view the job description here.
How are Eco-Reps selected?
Eco-Rep selections are made at the end of the Spring semester for the following year and are based on a written application and an interview. Recommendations are occasionally requested. Additional Eco-Reps may be hired during the last month of the Fall semester to replace Eco-Reps who will not be returning for the Spring semester.
Applicants are evaluated on their:
- Level of enthusiasm for the program
- Dorm of residence
- Ability to communicate effectively and get along with others
- Past history of taking initiative
- Creativity
- Amount of time they are able to commit to the program
- Environmental knowledge (not required, but a plus!)
- Charisma
Applicants who are self-starters, outgoing, eager to learn, comfortable teaching others and not over committed in other areas of their lives do well in the Eco-Reps program and can make a big difference in their dorms’ culture.
Dorms that currently have Eco-Reps are Blakeley, Bush, Carmichael (2), Carpenter House, Haskell, Hill, Hodgdon, Houston, Lewis (2), Metcalf, Miller, Richardson, South (2), Tilton, West, Wilson, and Wren. In addition, there are two Greek Life Advisors.
Eco-Reps are not required to live in the dorm that they work in, but it is strongly preferred.
Returning Eco-Reps may live off campus, but first-year Eco-Reps must live in on-campus housing. Every effort is made to assign Eco-Reps a dorm that is close to their own residence.
Preference is given to students who will be on campus for the entire year, but individuals going abroad for one semester are also encouraged to apply.
Students from all majors, interests, and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. You do not need to be an Environmental Studies major.
Why should I become an Eco-Rep?
As an individual in the Eco-Rep program, you will grow as a leader and as an environmental citizen.
With each week in the program, you will develop your communication skills as well as your knowledge and understanding of your own impact on the environment and how you can train yourself, as well as those around them, to change their behaviors.
This fulfilling and engaging job enables you to promote a sustainable future and will equip you with many of the leadership and practical skills necessary to become a sought after job candidate in the future.
If you are passionate about the environment, the Tufts community, creating change, and working with a great group of new friends you can make a difference as an Eco-Rep!
Apply now
Join Tufts Environmental Alumni (TEA)’s sixth annual Career Night! The evening is dedicated to students and alumni pursuing careers in the environmental job market and who would benefit from the practical, real-world experience of alumni who have succeeded in this field. Come connect with fellow Jumbos working in the environmental field and network with the next generation of environmental professionals.
Alumni Panelists include professionals from across disciplines, including environmental health, environmental policy and environmental science. These panelists and additional Alumni Ambassadors will participate in a networking session after the panel. Contact information for the panelists and the ambassadors will be included in a handout for students, so you do not want to miss out on this valuable resource and this great networking experience! Some of the panelists include:
* Dr. Barry Levy, an occupational and environmental health physician and epidemiologist, Adjunct Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, past President of the American Public Health Association, and etc. Graduate of Tufts from 1966.
* Kate Konschnik, Director of the Harvard Environmental Policy Initiative at Harvard Law School,former environmental enforcement attorney at the DOJ, and former counsel to a United States Senator. Graduated from Tufts in 1994
* Alyssa Le, an analyst in Abt Associates’ water practice.
* Jim Young, a Tufts geology alumnus and was former Licensed Site Professional (LSP) Association President in 2010
This event will take place Wednesday, March 15, 2017 from 7 – 8:30 pm at Dowling Hall, 7th Floor. Room 745 A&B.
Register here!
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