Oglethorpe University Goes Green

Oglethorpe University is well known for its gothic architecture and outstanding faculty, but what many do not know is that Oglethorpe alumni, faculty students and staff have stepped forward to make Oglethorpe a more environmentally friendly place, beyond the classroom.

One way in which the Oglethorpe community is making an effort to be environmentally friendly is through Bon Appétit, the company that provides dining and catering services for the university. On a national level, the company is dedicated to providing quality food services that work towards creating a sustainable future through socially responsible practices. Executive chef at Oglethorpe, Robert Garrett, said, “The main thing is raising awareness about eating seasonally and locally grown food. Twenty-years ago everything was shipped out of California or South America; there wasn’t a market for local farmers. The restaurants in Atlanta are changing that.”

Oglethorpe’s dining hall does its part wherever it can, including the yearly Eat Local Challenge. On one day in September, all food made in the cafeteria must come from within a 150 mile radius, the only exception being salt. Bon Appétit has also begun a “Low Carbon Diet” campaign aimed at reducing our carbon footprint on the planet. An example of this would be reducing all beef and dairy in the cafeteria by ten percent, since cattle are extremely carbon intensive. Bon Appétit also buys non-tropical fruit exclusively from North America to minimize the use of air freight.

Specifically at Oglethorpe, Garrett reduced water consumption during the drought by over thirty gallons per day by removing trays from the cafeteria, now only available upon request. His goal for next year is to begin composting, “We throw away a lot of organic material that could be used to create good compost. I’ve bought the bins and done the research; now I just need to find someone who will be able to use the compost.” Garrett hopes to reach that goal soon so that he move on to another green initiative.

The students of Oglethorpe have proved themselves to be just as concerned with the environment as the administration. Two years ago Jessica Daniel ’09 and Sarah Lykens ’07 revamped the somewhat lapsed club ECOS (Environmentally Concerned Oglethorpe Students) and mobilized students to take care of all recycling needs on campus. Jessica is working towards a major in Conservation and Communications, and, as president of ECOS, she coordinates efforts to provide recycling bins all over campus, in academic buildings and dorms, and collect the recycling periodically. “It has been rewarding serving as ECOS president,” Jessica noted. “But as with any club, I wish that there was more involvement. I would love to see Oglethorpe continue to go green, and I know that it is a goal that many of our alumni and Trustees can stand behind.”

One alumnus, Tom Reilly ’67, was the force behind getting Oglethorpe University’s campus certified as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, a five year process. When Dr. Lawrence M. Schall became university President, and made it clear he wanted to be involved within the community, Reilly seized the opportunity at an alumni event to talk with President Schall about his plan. “I brought a packet with all the forms that were needed and just handed it to him,” remembered Reilly. “And after that it was easy. He put it right through.”

Other ways in which Oglethorpe has shown its commitment to sustainable growth include changing all light bulbs on campus to energy-saving bulbs, replacing windows with high-quality insulated glass and installing state-of-the-art heating/cooling systems to improve air quality. All new buildings, including two new dormitories, have been designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, even using recycled granite to maintain the architectural character of the university.

Recently, the university board of trustees formed a Sustainability Committee led by Dr. Roarke Donnelly, assistant professor of biology. The committee has begun to fund recycling and other ECOS efforts, and expects to take on a greater role in the university’s Going Green efforts this coming year. Oglethorpe Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) also assists ECOS in addition to ongoing partnerships with several environmental non-profits including Dunwoody Nature Center and Trees Atlanta. CCE also assists with a service-learning course that has partnered with the Blue Heron Nature Preserve.

Within the classroom, Oglethorpe’s Urban Ecology Program teaches students how to integrate natural science and social science so they are prepared to handle complex problems arising in rapidly urbanizing areas, like Atlanta. Donnelly, program chair, explains, “Growth often degrades natural resources and creates inequities in standards of living, quality of education and allocation of taxes. Growth management can eliminate or reduce these impacts, but only if it is based on the interacting facets of natural and social science that drive urban expansion.”

To produce scientists and managers that will effectively manage future urban growth, schools must offer educational programs that integrate natural and social sciences. Oglethorpe University’s Urban Ecology Program offers this interdisciplinary experience in the city of Atlanta, where outdoor experiments, guest speakers and internship opportunities become the classroom.

Oglethorpe University also offers an Environmental Studies major as part of a dual degree program with Duke University. Upon completion of the five year program, students qualify for both a BA in Environmental Studies from Oglethorpe and a Masters Degree in either Environmental Management or Forestry from Duke.