Welcome to the Sustainability Council
Mission
The Colorado Mesa University Sustainability Council is committed to protecting and enhanceing the environment through our teaching, research, service, and administrative operations. We seek to foster a community that sustains ecological systems and educates campus citizens about environmental awareness, local action, and global thinking. We seek to promote environmentally sound practices as a core value of the College. Our fundamental objectives are to:
- Further incorporate environmental concerns as a significant priority in university decision-making.
- Encourage the use of alternative products, practices and procedures to minimize negative impacts on the environment.
- Protect the biodiversity of our region and serve as a living library and habitat for local species.
- Consider the social and economic impacts of Colorado Mesa's environmental policies and foster a participatory process for engaging the community in developing these policies.
- Acknowledge and incorporate environmental concerns into the mission of this land grant university.
- Provide a model for peer institutions that demonstrates superior environmental performance.
Our decisions and actions will be guided by the College’s Mission Statement, sensitive to the College's resources, and informed by the College's Campus Master Plan. As a learning institution, we recognize that planning for sustainability will be an evolving process.
How To Get Involved
Become a member of the Sustainability Council Today!
Join our mailing list by sending an e-mail stating “Add Me” to mesasustainabilitycouncil@gmail.com and add us on Facebook CMU Sustainability Council.
By becoming a member of the Sustainability Council you will receive e mails about weekly meetings, volunteer opportunities, community events, current projects we are working on, and much more. Also feel free to e-mail any ideas or suggestions to the council.
The world is in the process of a sustainable revolution join the fight today. Along with preserving our planet for the future; the Sustainability Council looks great on your resume and gives you an upper hand in the job market. Most employers realize the growing importance of sustainability and the demand for sustainable ethics.
What are you waiting for be part of the solution today!
Contact Information:
- President: Tom Morrison tmorriso@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
- Vice President: Heidi Duce hduce@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
- Secretary: Tanya Rinehart trinehar@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
- Treasurer: Amanda Stahlke
- Graphic Designer: Gabby Serrano
- Staff Sponsor: Chad Thatcher
Upcoming Events
Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Saturday, March 24, 2012
WCC will once again sponsor a showing of the Wild & Scenic Film Fest. CMU Outdoor Program will be hosting the event in the University Ballroom.
Western Colorado Congress (WCC) is an alliance for community action empowering people to protect and enhance their quality of life in Western Colorado.
CMU students also have the opportunity to create your own 3 minute environmental video.
Complete info and rules at www.wccongress.org/contest
“All I Can” film screening, 7:30 pm Wednesday, April 4 , 2012
Where: Maverick Center Auditorium, Room 155
As the Sustainability Council we find a lot of our motivation to create a sustainable planet through our constant interactions with the environment. We realize the power and importance of nature and the importance to preserve what we have left. The council shares its passion for the outdoors with environmentalists all over the world. After watching “All I Can” (a ground-breaking ski movie produced by Sherpas Cinema), in preparation for our own skiing trip we instantly knew we had to share it with the CMU campus and Grand Junction community. We immediately got in contact with Sherpas Cinema and starting working out the details. Now we are proud to present…
ALL.I.CAN. – An Environmental Awareness Snow Sports Film by Sherpas Cinema
Sherpas Cinema, the groundbreaking film team deeply rooted in authenticity and progression, present their newest film - 2 years, 5 countries and over 15 skiers in the making: All.I.Can.
The time has come for a ski film that stands for something. Join Sherpas Cinema as they unite spectacular cinematography with creative cinematic language to fuse passion for skiing with motivation for green initiatives and forward thinking. In bringing the planet to life and drawing parallels between daily existence, they find a common ground between the global situation and the real individual.
Sherpas Cinema has been an established entity in the North American ski-film industry for over 8 years now and they are set apart from the norm through their unbridled creativity, artistic flare, and motives of environmental and educational consciousness. Their film, All.I.Can., is a spectacular visual and emotional journey from the personal to the world perspective.
Broken into the three areas of focus, the Sherpas take us on a confronting, magical and inspiring path. Emphasizing the ‘ALL’ that has impacted our world in a natural and anthropogenic sense, what ‘Individuals in mountain cultures have recognized to be issues and what changes we ‘CAN’ strive to implement globally and make in our everyday lives. Featured athlete JP Auclair drives home the sobering thought and environmental motivation that the film creates, stating “we feel like we need to be doing less of this and less of that. But I don’t think it’s about doing less, it’s about doing more”. These personal goals, motivations and passions for encouraging environmental awareness around the world, and especially in the winter climes that support the lifestyle of the professional athletes presented in the film, are portrayed throughout in an adrenaline-filled, inspired fashion.
The incredible natural cinematography, integrated music and structural components of the film have melded together in a chillingly awe-inspiring presentation of various layers, messages and stories. Taking ski-filmmaking to an entirely new level, the Sherpas are going beyond tricks and big lines and injecting a sense of morality and social responsibility.
Featuring ground-breaking skiing from Chile to Greenland, naturally mind-blowing scenery, and an environmental engagement that creates an accessible identification point for the viewer, All.I.Can leaves you with an inspiring new perspective and appreciation for what we have and what we stand to lose
Jess Smith
See the trailer
Leave No Trace Trainer Course on the River, April 7, 2012.
Come with the sustainability Council as we raft through class 3 whitewater in some of the states most pristine river canyons. While enjoying the river we will also be learning how to act in the wild responsibly.
The course will be taught by LNT Master Educator and our faculty advisor Chad Thatcher.
The course will be two days on the river and participants will learn the concepts of Leave No Trace and prepare to teach Leave No Trace curriculum in a variety of settings-schools, camps, parks, wilderness and front country areas. Workshop topics include the underlying ethics and seven principles of Leave No Trace:
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitor
Stop by the Outdoor Program to sign up!
In preparation for Earth Day (Sunday, April 2, 2012) the Sustainability Council will be hosting a few events offered to students to help get involved.
Colorado River Clean Up, Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
Join us as we raft through town picking up trash and debris. We will be helping to restore the Colorado River to its natural beauty. We will meet at the Outdoor Program at 3:30 pm and try to be back around 6:30 pm. Snacks will be provided. Space is limited! Stop by the Outdoor Program today or call 970-248-1428 to reserve your spot!
Tabeguache Bouldering Clean Up, 2pm-5pm, Thursday, April 19, 2012.
Today we will head to the Tabeguache trail head where we will be cleaning bouldering routes and holds and picking up litter. For more information stob by the Outdoor Program or call 970-248-1428.
CMU Sustainable Day, 1pm-3pm, Friday, April 20, 2012.
We will have a table set up in the elm quad to celebrate Earth day. Ride your bike to school/work day. Today show your support and ride your bike to school, work, or wherever you have to be. Rewards for recycling. Stop by our table with plastic bags for recycling and earn rewards. Also bring old shirts or fabric to recycle we will have a tie-dye station set up!
Creating a Sustainable Campus
Over the past few years CMU’s campus has been undergoing many changes and renovations. Colorado Mesa University is now one of the leaders in the state in the use of solar power and geo exchange to energize our ever growing campus.
What You can do
Get involved in the new recycling program on campus.
How to Recycle at Colorado Mesa University
Use alternate forms of transportation.
Learn about alternative transportation at Mesa
Take steps towards living sustainably.
Maverick Green Living guide
Volunteer Opportunities
Help spread the word.
Move Out Madness
Education
Although every field of study is greatly affected and interrelated to the environment and sustainability CMU also offers various programs geared specifically towards environmental knowledge.
Programs Include:
Mavbikes
All you need to know about Mavbikes
Past Events
