For many people, the concept of sustainability is abstract and hard to visualize. In fact, we’re more used to seeing what sustainability isn’t than what it is. We know that things like pollution, non-renewable resources, and energy waste are unsustainable, but the better alternatives are talked about far less. It’s rare for conversations about sustainability to go beyond what we’re doing wrong and explore what we can do right. This spring, sustainable organizations at FSU are trying to have that conversation.

On February 1st, Sustainable Campus is collaborating with the Student Government Association, the Food for Thought Pantry, and Presidential Scholars to host “SustainaNole Roundtables,” a public event for discussions about what makes a college campus sustainable, how we can bring change about individually, and what policies we want FSU to consider. After the event, these conversations will be compiled into a report to support further action toward a much-needed official campus sustainability plan. Syd Cole, member of Presidential Scholars, states, “We have the ability to start genuine work towards a greener economy.”

When and Where is the Event?

Wednesday, February 1st at 6:30pm in the Student Union ballroom. Refreshments will be provided!

What Will Be Discussed?

SustainaNole Roundtable discussions will be inspired by Mitchell Thomashow’s book The Nine Elements of a Sustainable Campus, which breaks down the broad term “sustainability” into distinct areas in which a university can make progress. These include food, energy, materials, and even curriculum.

The Nine Elements does not seek to propose specific points of action; it simply draws our attention to various areas where we can improve. We’ll work in small groups to discuss the text’s analysis of each topic, but also consider how it might translate to our everyday lives and how FSU can act on it.

At the end of our discussion, we want you to figure out for yourself why sustainability matters to you, how you fit into the picture, and what policies you want our university’s administration to consider. John Nusbaum, another Presidential Scholar, states, “Sustainability matters to me because it affects the health and well-being of future generations. By taking steps to reduce our environmental impact, we can create a better future for ourselves and those who come after us.” 

We believe that most people share this interest in preserving our world for the future—what matters is that we understand how to go about that.

Why is an Official Campus Sustainability Plan Important?

After the roundtables, Presidential Scholars will write a call to action for an official university sustainability plan based on the discussions at the event. Gabe Pfeuffer-Ferguson, a junior and the program’s chair, has stated that “sustainable action at the collegiate level determines success for future students. As someone who plans to go into higher education administration, I want to ensure that students who come after me have the same (if not better) access to resources and opportunities on our campus.”

Having a conversation is the first step. A good sustainability plan also needs to define values (abstract concepts we want to achieve) and goals (action items with expectations and timelines). This ensures that we stay on track and that we have a clear way to set new goals in the future.

Until an official plan is in place, from an institutional perspective, sustainability remains an abstract concept. We can work toward it and identify our successes, but we cannot measure our shortcomings. As of right now, there is no accountability. Values without goals are just talking points, and they can be mentioned or discarded as desired. The university’s action toward sustainability so far has undoubtedly been helpful, but having an official set of goals would codify progress as a priority.

The first step to real, sustained change is a clear list of goals. SustainaNole Roundtables will be an opportunity for you, the students, to help decide some of them. It’s not a process that ends with us; students long after will have to ask similar questions and come up with their own answers, but they’ll have our conversations to look back on. You have the chance to be the first to participate in a multigenerational discussion and we hope to see you there!