Sections

On Thursday, numerous groups filled the Shapiro Atrium to showcase various way that students can save the environment in the annual Energy Conservations and Clean Energy Fair. The event was cosponsored by both student-run and administrative organizations such as Campus Climate Challenge, the Energy Savings Program, the “Greening the Ivory Tower” class, Students for Environmental Action and Brandeis Energy Sustainability Team. The purpose of the program was to provide students with access to various ways to save the environment and to provide information in the endeavor. Tables and displays were present and a discussion panel also took place in order to increase awareness for the groups common cause.

Although this event had been conducted in the past, a new group advertising in the atrium was the Campus Climate Challenge. Headed by Jamie Pottern 09 and Katya Dreyer-Oren 09, this organization is the Brandeis chapter of a nation-wide movement to bring awareness to various environmental issues. Dreyer-Oren believed that this was the perfect place for them to advertise their name and fulfill their purpose of environmental education. This seemed like the perfect venue, commented Dreyer-Oren. We wanted to combine our common missions and it seemed like the perfect place. Pottern also listed education as a purpose for their presence at the event. We wanted to educate students about the environment, he said.

The Atrium was adorned with stations representing various ways that students could save energy and also outlined already extant plans in place for conservation on campus. The fair lasted two hours and was visited by dozens of people. Afterwards, a discussion panel convened that included Brandeis professors, a member of the Environmental Protection Agency, and various other experts about the environment. Moderated by Emily Silver '08, the discussion mainly centered around ways that policy changes can make a difference on the environment. Afterwards there was a brief question and answer period where students could inquire further about the subject from the experts on the panel.