UMKC wants to become more environmentally friendly

By: Lauren Stalder

Posted: 3/12/07

UMKC honors students know something must be done to save the environment.

"Here in the U.S., we take energy, among other resources, for granted," said honors student Phaedra Dowell, senior. "To put it bluntly, our current style of living is completely unsustainable, and if we don't wise up, our children will have some serious issues to deal with."

That's why the honors students have organized the first "Sustainable UMKC" competition. The purpose of this competition is to have students and faculty members think of ideas and programs to make UMKC a more environmentally sustainable school.

The idea for the competition sprang from the Mid-American Regional Council's Sustainable Kansas City Competition. That competition was designed to have residents and community members gather and discuss ideas to make Kansas City a more environmentally acceptable city.

"It struck everyone that our University ought to model sustainability, to teach how our generation can meet its needs while still preserving a vibrant world that will meet the needs of future generations," said Dustin Jensen, a senior in the honors program.

Any UMKC student, employee or alumni can enter the competition. The top contestants will receive recognition at a school ceremony, and their idea will be published in Lucerna, a scholarly journal at UMKC. The top two contestants will be awarded $250 to pursue development of their plans.

Contestants are allowed to submit more than one entry and the top contestants will be selected and notified by April 10. The project or idea must be specifically designed to help the UMKC campus.

The honors students have attended seminars and classes focusing on climate and environmental change. The knowledge they gained will help them design ideas for the campus and promote awareness of environmental concerns.

The students hope this is not the only project UMKC will have to comply with changing technological and environmental advances. Dowell hopes projects like the building of the new student union will incorporate green technologies and be open to other energy-saving techniques.

Dowell and Jensen, along with other members of the honors program, will make the final decision of the winners of the competition.

Information about the competition can be found at http://cas.umkc.edu/honors/sustainable.pdf or by contacting Sally Conrad at conrads@umkc.edu. Participants must fill out and submit an entry form by April 4.

lstalder@unews.com