College Ranks 2nd in PA for Waste Minimization

by Alana J. Mauger

Montgomery County Community College  finished the national 2013 RecycleMania competition with some promising numbers!

The College placed 2nd among all higher education institutions in Pennsylvania in the competition’s Waste Minimization category, collecting 15.292 lbs. of combined trash and recycling per capita. Nationally, this ranked MCCC 17th in Waste Minimization among public two-year colleges and 25th overall.

In the Per Capita Classic category, the College finished 12th among public two-year institutions nationally, with 4.252 lbs. of recycling per capita, positioning it as 20th in PA and 303rd overall.

In the Grand Champion category, MCCC scored a 27.803% cumulative recycling rate, positioning it 9th in PA, 17th among public two-year institutions, and 143rd overall.

Overall, the College collected a cumulative 34,132 lbs. of recycling over the eight-week competition, ranking it 14th among public two-year institutions nationally, 18th in PA, and 271st overall in the Gorilla Prize category

RecycleMania is an eight-week nationwide competition, held Feb. 3 through March 30, during which colleges and universities competed to see who could reduce, reuse and recycle the most campus waste. Montgomery County Community College has participated for six consecutive years.

According to the U.S. EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM), MCCC’s recycling efforts during the competition resulted in a greenhouse gas reduction of 48 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E), which is translates to the energy consumption of four households or the emissions of nine cars.

To learn more about RecycleMania or to view the full list of results, visit recyclemaniacs.org.

** Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Montgomery County Community College’s sustainability blog, Think Green.

The Latest From the Library…

by Mary Lou Neighbor, AV Librarian/Assistant Professor

Oscar Winners Now in the AV Library Collection!

Now that the spring semester is over, please plan some leisure time to come and check out the films that were recognized at the 2013 Academy Awards as being among the best in cinema for the past year.  Nominated and Oscar-winning films are:

Anna Karenina – innovative re-telling of the Tolstoy classic. – (DRA ANN)

Argo – based on the real life rescue of American embassy workers during the Iran Hostage crisis – won the Academy Award for Best Picture. –  (DRA ARG)

Beasts of the Southern Wild – dreamlike film in which 6-year-old, Hushpuppy, attempts to help her father in an isolated bayou community. –  (DRA BEA)

Brave – animated film about brave Scottish Princess Merida. Won the Academy Award for best animated film.  (CHI BRA)

5 Broken Cameras – a deeply personal, first-hand documentary about non-violent resistance in Bil’in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements.   (DS119.76 .F58)

Flight   – Denzel Washington plays a masterful airline pilot who lands a damaged plane while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. (DRA FLI)

Frankenweenie  – A Tim Burton animated film in which young Victor conducts a science experiment that will bring his dog, Sparky, back to life. (NC1765 .F73)

Hitchcock – Biopic about Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) and his wife, Alma (Helen Mirren), set during the filming of Psycho.  (DRA HIT)

The Hobbit – The prequel to Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. (DRA HAB)

How to Survive a Plague - The story of the brave young men and women who successfully reversed the tide of an epidemic, demanded the attention of a fearful nation, and stopped AIDS from becoming a death sentence. (RA643.8 .H697)

Life of Pi – Motion picture based on the popular book filmed with extraordinary special effects. (DRA LIF)

Lincoln – Daniel Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Actor in his portrayal of Lincoln.  (DRA LIN)

The Master – In post-World War II America, a naval veteran arrives home unsettled and uncertain of his future, until he is tantalized by a cult known as The Cause and its charismatic leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman . (DRA MAS)

Les Miserables – filmed version of the classic musical.  Actress, Anne Hathaway, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. (MUS MIS)

ParaNorman – An animated feature in which Norman, a misunderstood boy, must use his special powers to save his town from a centuries-old curse.  (CHI PAR)

The Pirates:  Band of Misfits! - After years of humiliation and failed attempts to win the Pirate of the Year Award, Pirate Captain and his oddball crew go on a race to pillage the most booty in this animated feature film.  (CHI PIR)

A Royal Affair – This Danish language film was nominated for Best Foreign Film.  The story centers on the romantic triangle of the insane Danish King Christian VII; the royal physician, Struensee, who is a man of enlightenment and idealism; and the young but strong Queen Caroline Mathilda that leads to a revolution which changes the entire nation of Denmark. (FOR ROY)

Searching for Sugarman – Academy Award winning documentary about Sixto Rodriguez, a Detroit folksinger who had a short-lived recording career in the 1970s. Unknown to him, his musical story continued in South Africa where he became a pop music icon. Long rumored there to be dead, two fans, record store owner, Stephen Segerman, and journalist, Craig Bartholomew-Strydom, decided to seek out the truth of his fate. (ML420 .R637 S43)

The Sessions – Paralyzed and confined to an iron lung since childhood, poet-journalist Mark O’Brien has overcome adversity time and time again. But now, at age 38, he faces his toughest challenge yet: losing his virginity. Helen Hunt was nominated for best actress in her role as the therapist.   (DRA SES)

Skyfall – The latest James Bond film, which was nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Original Song.  (ACT SKY)

War Witch – French language film which is a brutal yet poetic snapshot of life as one of Africa’s child soldiers, following a young girl who is kidnapped from her village by a group of rebel fighters.   (FOR WAR)

Wreck it Ralph – Ralph, who plays the bad guy in his popular video game, wants to prove that he is a true hero in this animated action film.   (CHI WRE)

Zero Dark Thirty – Chronicles the decade-long search for Osama bin Laden following the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of Navy SEAL Team 6.  (DRA ZER)

We will also be adding to the collection when they are available:  Django Unchained, Silver Linings Playbook, The Impossible, Amour (best foreign language film), No (foreign language film from Chile) and the Israeli documentary, The Gatekeepers.

College Earns ‘Bike Friendly University’ Honorable Mention Designation

by Robert Gardner

Montgomery County Community College has been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists with a Bike Friendly University (BFU)  Honorable Mention designation.

In February, the College submitted its first-ever application for recognition by the national organization’s Bicycle Friendly America (BFA) program.  The application was based on a report developed by the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association (GVF), the organization that operates the College’s award-winning Campus Shuttle.

Read the final report

The College earned recognition, in part, for its friendly treatment of bicycles and their riders.  The majority of College’s bike friendly initiatives have taken place at West Campus in Pottstown, where cyclists can find five bike racks that accommodate 24 cycles.  Students, faculty, and staff are offered no-cost use of bicycles through the Bike Pottstown Free Bike Share program, and they can access 12 “cruiser” style, single-speed bikes at the Schuylkill River Academic and Heritage Center.

The application also highlighted the College’s major achievements for bicycling over the prior two years, including the hosting of the LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly (for the past seven years, in fact).  The annual fundraising event attracts thousands of cyclists and runners to the Blue Bell campus each year.  Also, the College will host rideAtaxia in Blue Bell on Sunday, October 13, 2013.

In a email dated April 16, 2013, BFA’s Communication Director Carolyn Szczepanski thanked the College for its inaugural application and delivered the news of an honorable mention.  She also stated that feedback would be offered to assist the College with its next application.

Efforts to encourage bicycling—from lower on-campus speed limits to permitting bikes within its buildings—fall within the parameters of the Climate Council’s Action Plan and, thus, reduce the institution’s carbon footprint.

While improvements will be necessary in order to achieve full Bike Friendly University status, Montgomery County Community College is pleased to earn national recognition for its promotion of the safe use of bicycles as a healthy, alternative mode of transportation.

** Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Montgomery County Community College’s sustainability blog, Think Green.

The Latest From the Library…

by Mary Lou Neighbor, AV Librarian/Assistant Professor

The Library and Earth Day Activities

Monday, April 22nd is Earth Day, and the Audiovisual Library will have a table at the downtime (12:30-1:30 p.m.) event displaying our dozens of DVDs on environmental issues.  There will also be a link to a bibliography of the DVDs available to students, staff, and faculty who would like to follow up.  If you would like to see what films we have, go to: 
http://bit.ly/mc3ecofilms
  After downtime, the films will be on display for the week in the Library.

One of the films in the Audiovisual Library that has been in the collection since 2010 is “Gasland,” which is being shown at the Central Campus on Monday, April 29th, at 12:30 p.m. in CH 144, and available to West Campus at the same time in SH 221.  The filmmaker, Josh Fox, will discuss the film following the screening.

The film examines hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking.”  In 2009, Josh Fox learned that his home in the Delaware River Basin was on top of the Marcellus Shale, a rock formation containing natural gas that stretches across New York, Pennsylvania, and huge stretches of the Northeast.  He was offered $100,000 to lease his land for the new method of natural gas drilling.  The film documents Josh’s cross-country odyssey to find out if the controversial process of fracking is actually safe.  He traveled to 24 states to interview families, EPA whistleblowers, congressmen and scientists.  He unearthed a shocking story about a practice that is understudied and inadequately regulated.  You will want to see this film to become better informed about this practice.

So, please come and visit our AV Library table in the conference room near the cafeteria at downtime on Earth Day, Monday, the 22nd.  And please come and  the Library during the week to check out DVDs on environmental issues, which will be on display!

College Gears Up for Earth Day 2013

by Alana J. Mauger

Montgomery County Community College will host a week of educational programs and activities April 22-29 in observance of Earth Day 2013.

On Monday, April 22, the College will join communities across the world in celebrating Earth Day 2013, themed The Face of Climate Change. The day begins with free tire pressure checking stations from 8-10 a.m. in the Morris Road parking lot at the Central Campus in Blue Bell and in the South Hall parking lot at the West Campus in Pottstown. From 12:20-1:20 p.m., both campuses will host a series of displays in College Hall (Central) and South Hall (West). Exhibits include Environmental Club, RecycleMania, Green Office Initiative, GVF/SEPTA transportation options, Campus Bookstore green items, and Siemens ESCO information, as well as a CulinArt Farmers Market.

At 12:30 p.m. in College Hall and South Hall, entries from the Student Sustainability Film Contest will be screened, and awards will be presented. The Climate Council received a total of 16 submissions!

Ceramics Club President Galen Graham spearheads the bowl-making process. Photo by Matt Carlin

As a special treat, the Central Campus Ceramics Club will hold an “Empty Bowls” event to raise money for a local soup kitchen  and for the club. For $10, Earth Day participants can receive a brand-new, handmade bowl, filled with fresh soup and baked bread supplied by on-campus food services provider CulinArt. Read more about this project and view photos on the College’s Think Green blog!

On Tuesday, April 23 at 12:45 p.m., the College will screen the film Thin Ice: The Inside Story of Climate Science in College Hall and South Hall.  The film is a collaboration between Oxford University, United Kingdom, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (VUW), and London-based DOX Productions. Debuting on Earth Day, the film is being screened globally free of change on April 22 and 23. Watch the Thin Ice trailer.

On Wednesday, April 24 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., the College’s Dean of STEM Dr. David Brookstein will offer a presentation on “Alternative Fuel Vehicles– Environmental Opportunities and Challenges” in College Hall at the Central Campus with a video simulcast to South Hall at the West Campus.

On Thursday, April 25, author Chari Towne will discuss her book A River Again, which focuses on the environmental cleanup of the Schuylkill River in the 1940s and 1950s. The discussion will take place at 12:45 p.m. in the South Hall Community Room at the West Campus, with video simulcast to the Advanced Technology Center room 101 at the Central Campus. Towne’s book is available for purchase from the Schuylkill River Heritage Area or can be downloaded as a free PDF from Delaware River Keeper.

On Monday, April 29, filmmaker and activist Josh Fox will visit the College’s Central Campus to discuss hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking,” following a free screening of his Sundance Award-winning and Academy Award -nominated documentary, GASLAND. The screening (107 minutes) will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by Fox’s presentation and a question and answer session. Both the film and talk will take place in College Hall Room 144. The event is sponsored by the College’s Environmental Club. Read more about GASLAND on the College’s Think Green blog!

In addition to the above events, cell phone and battery recycling stations will be available all week in College Hall and Parkhouse Hall at the Central Campus, and in South Hall at the West Campus. The Office of Student Leadership & Involvement will also be holding its “Service Rewind” celebrations for students on Tuesday, April 23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the South Hall Lobby, West Campus, and Thursday, April 25 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the College Hall Lobby, Central Campus.

All Earth Day activities are free of change (except for the Empty Bowls project) and are open to the public. For more information, visit the College’s Think Green blog.

~ Robert Gardner and Amy Kolsky contributed to this article.

VIDEO: Apply to Park in the College’s ‘Green Lot’

Do you drive an electric or hybrid vehicle? Carpool? Drive a vehicle that gets 25 MPG or greater? Ride the Campus Shuttle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may qualify to park in Montgomery County Community College’s Green Lot. The lot is located by the Advanced Technology Center as the Central Campus. Check out the video to learn more!

Pilot Initiative Promotes ‘Green Office’ Practices

by Robert Gardner

Tier 1, 12 steps

Montgomery County Community College hopes to convert all of its offices into “green-houses.”  Though the changes will not necessarily be visible from the outside, the College intends to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability via the Green Office Initiative.  Six offices have been selected to participate in the pilot program, including MCCC’s Presidents’ Office, Academic Affairs and Information Technology at the Central Campus; Student Leadership & Involvement and the Student Success Center at the West Campus; and CulinArt, the College’s external food vendor.

Executive Assistant to the President Joshua Schwartz and Manager of Procurement Marie Ryan are spearheading the initiative, which focuses on making impactful changes at little or no additional cost. The duo also credits Danielle Siemenski, former executive assistance to the vice president of information technology, for her early role in helping to develop the program.

Tier 2, 10 steps

After researching green office programs at other institutions, including the one at Harvard University, Schwartz presented a four-tier, goal driven system to MCCC’s Climate Council in April 2012.

Each tier in the system is color-coded (shades of green, naturally) and requires certain steps be reached.  As an office accomplishes each tier, one section of that office’s MCCC “house” will turn green. It will take approximately 3-6 months for an office to reach each tier.

“We want the [green] office initiative to be seen as an on-campus leader of sustainability awareness,” Schwartz said.  “It could also be a leader in the community at-large—locally, state-wide, nationally.  This is another way to maintain and push forward the College’s leadership.”

Tier 3, 8 steps

“Our college is challenged in such a way, as are other community colleges, to be cutting-edge educators,” Ryan added.  “Cost-effectiveness plays a big role.  We want to save taxpayers money.”

Paper and printing account for a large part of the potential runaway costs incurred by the College.  As MCCC constantly seeks fresh modes of efficiency—environmental, fiscal, and otherwise—this initiative seeks to bring the College’s offices in line with the efforts of its grounds and facilities departments.  Ryan negotiated with suppliers to secure lower-costs on green office products.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg.  We want to get this going in all areas, from all of our vendors, Ryan said.”

Tier 4, 7 steps

The Committee anticipates that other offices will follow the lead of the pilot six.  The program requires that a minimum of 50% of an office’s staff must sign the registration to participate. Each participating office has a primary contact, or internal office mentor, who reports to the Green Office Committee.  The mentors also serve as a conduit for goals and news from the Climate Council.

As an innovator in the higher ed green movement, the College understands it must lead first from within.  “We serve a lot of coffee in our meetings,” Schwartz quipped.  “But the insiders know, bring a reusable mug.”

Completed

At the bottom line, the numbers speak for themselves.  So far, the costs associated with the Green Office Initiative have dropped 11-12%.  The changes are better for the environment and the taxpayers’ wallets.

“Going green costs less,” Schwartz said.  “We are saving money.”

** Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Montgomery County Community College’s sustainability blog, Think Green.

Environmental Activist Emily Hunter to Give Public Lecture at College

by Diane VanDyke

Emily Hunter

Emily Hunter, an environmental advocacy journalist from Canada, will discuss worldwide environmental concerns and the important role of today’s eco-activists when she visits Montgomery County Community College on Monday, Feb. 25, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Science Center Theater, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. A simulcast of the presentation will be shown at the West Campus in the South Hall Community Room, 101 College Drive, Pottstown.

The community is invited to attend this free presentation.  For information, call 215-641-6518 or visit www.mc3.edu. Following the presentation, a book signing will be held from 1:30-2 p.m. in the Science Center lobby in Blue Bell.

As the daughter of the late Robert Hunter, the first president of Greenpeace, and Bobbi Hunter, the first woman to save a whale by blocking a harpoon, Emily embraces the fight to protect the environment and works tirelessly for reform, seeking to inspire today’s young adults and encourage a new generation of eco-warriors.

During the past eight years, she hosted and co-produced four TV documentaries as part of MTV News Canada’s Impact series and was a former eco-blogger for This Magazine. In 2011, she published her first book, The Next Eco-Warriors, which provides an inside view of frontline environmental youth activism.

Hunter’s passion to protect the environmental has taken her around the globe from the seas of Antarctica to help the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society prevent illegal whale hunting to the Borneo rainforest to protest the deforestation and destruction of the oldest rainforest in the world. In Canada, she coordinated a Day of Action with 350.org for climate justice.

Most recently, Hunter visits and speaks at college campuses in the United States and Canada to generate awareness and motivate the next generation of eco-leaders or what she refers to as “activism 2.0.”

As part of this recruitment effort, Hunter plans to create a new documentary film featuring the eco-revolution of this second generation of activists. The film will feature economic and social justice, as well as environmental reforms.

Hunter’s presentation on Feb. 25 is part of the ongoing Richard K. Bennett Distinguished Lectureship for Peace and Social Justice series, which was established at the College in 1981 with a grant from the William Penn Foundation. The lectureship reflects the ideals of Bennett, a Quaker who devoted his life work to accomplishing peace and justice through non-violent efforts.

The presentation also underscores MCCC’s sustainability efforts and pledge to become carbon neurtal by 2050 as part of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. To learn more about the College’s sustinability initiative, visit its Think Green blog at mc3green.wordpress.com.

Colleges Gear Up for 2013 RecycleMania Tournament

by Robert Gardner

Montgomery County Community College will once again take part in RecycleMania, a nationwide tournament among colleges and universities designed to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization.  After finishing third in Pennsylvania—with a cumulative recycling rate of 34.85% in the 2012 challenge—the College expects to maintain momentum in this, its sixth consecutive year of competing.

The preseason practice weeks run from Jan. 20-Feb. 2. The official competition kicks off on Feb. 3 and extends eight weeks to March 30.

Over a 10 week period, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita or have the highest recycling rate.

In 2012, 605 colleges comprising 6.2 million staff and students recycled and/or composted 94.4 million pounds of waste.  In addition, Recyclemania 2012 resulted in a 148,897 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2E) .  Of the totals, Montgomery County Community College contributed 39,780 pounds of recycling and averaged 4.9 pounds of recycling per person each week.  These efforts resulted in a greenhouse gas reduction of 35 MTCO2E.

RecycleMania is made possible through the sponsorship support of The Coca Cola Company, SCA, American Forest & Paper Association, Alcoa and Keep America Beautiful.

Additional program support is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise program, College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), Campus Conservation Nationals and the United Negro College Fund.

Stay tuned to the College’s Think Green blog for weekly RecycleMania stats and updates.

College to Celebrate Campus Sustainability Day Oct. 17 & 24

by Robert Gardner

Montgomery County Community College will take part in National Campus Sustainability Day, a time for colleges and universities nationwide to consider past successes with an eye on the future of sustainable initiatives.  This year’s theme is “Higher Education: Moving Sustainability Forward.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, Central Campus will play host to Sustainability Day festivities, followed by events at West Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 24, when the rest of the nation’s participants will celebrate.  At each event, the College will feature activities and information in many different aspects of the sustainability, including academics, advocacy, green campus operations and transportation.  Food drives to benefit Norristown and Pottstown community food pantries will take place, as well as Farmers Markets, where shoppers can support local growers.

The College’s students will be represented by the ACE Community Service Club and Environmental Club.  And, in conjunction with Earth Day 2013, the College will launch a student video contest (details will be announced shortly).

Finally, in observance of Campus Sustainability Day, the College invites members of the community to Tweet ways they are going green with the hash tag #mc3green.  Responses tweeted between Monday, Oct. 15-Friday, Oct. 26 with #mc3green will be compiled and posted to the College’s Think Green blog!