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Show i 1 6 ON CAMPUS STAYING GREEN TO MAINTAIN OUR SCENE SECRET LIFE OF t 4 SEAN KENNEDY STAFF REPORTER i I gJUf.-- Westminster College included Re- views 2014 Guide to 322 Green ,A Colleges since 2011 for its commitment to sustainability in academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career V J J preparation. Westminster received its third recognition by the Princeton Review as one of the top green colleges by reporting to The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) through The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Educa- tion (AASHE.) Its not a ranking, said PHOTO BY Lancee Whetman be alarmed if a bee on you this week walking through for most likely it is one campus, of the thousands of Camiolan bees that are being raised by the school bee keepers. Andrew Goldman, sophomore computer science major, is the official Westminster Beekeeper. I started beekeeping two years ago after the other keeper graduated, Goldman said. Helping Goldman is Arthur Eby, senior chemistry major. Eby, who has been beekeeping for the past four years, is currently second in command when working on the hive. The hives are located next to Giovale Library, tucked between the stairwell leading to the library from the parking garage below the soccer field. Goldman explained that the decision to have Camiolan bees came from their ability to breed quickly and their friendly nature, which makes them easier to work with. Usually, they will let you go about your business while working on the hive, Goldman said. Until you start accidentally killing a couple bees, they dont mind you going through Monica Ferreira, Environmen- Dont ; I j i; t:- V 1 r ! ' If the bees do not make it through the winter all is not lost The great thing about bees is that they will recolonize a hive if they are placed into it, Goldman said. If the bees dont make it through the winter, we will pre-existi- i i said. have to get more bees in the We harvest once a year, spring and put them into our hive. Luckily, they Goldman said. In order for the have no issue acclimathive to survive the winter we usually have to leave the bees with 8o ing themselves to a new hive. The honey is not the only pounds of wax and honey in the hive for them to eat during the benefit. I love the smell, experience cold winter months. "We have not been able and the fact that our bees pollito have a hive survive through nate all the flowers on campus, the winter once in the last four Eby said. The honey Goldman and years, Goldman said. This year though, I think they will make Eby harvested might not last ' through winter, but both hope The hive on campus is a top they will see the friendly sight of bar hive, meaning the bees form the bees buzzing come spring. the structure of the hive from the top down. their hive. t . The first of these sections is the front area. This area is composed of the pollen and honey storage. Here is where the drone cones are found. Drone cones are larger than the normal hexagons that make up the hive and also are where all male bees stay. The second section is the center of the hive. This area is called the brood chamber. The brood chamber is where the queen bee lays her eggs and where 99 percent of the bees are made. This main area is also the home to all the female bees. The final section of hive is where the honey is kept Here in the honey storage area the bees closely guard their beloved honey. In order for predators to get to this area, they would first have to make it through the first two sections of the hive. I have seen a few wasps make it into the honey storage area before, but its not often that they get in there, Goldman ng tal Outreach Coordinator. It is a set of guidelines that institutions of higher education are encouraged to meet in order to create incentives for continual improvement towards sustainability. Students, faculty and staff enter in data to the STARS system to determine what kind of ecological footprint the college has. The results of this data allow the college to understand how it can lessen its footprint about, said Brent Olsen, enand be a more sustainable part vironmental studies professor. of the community. Our job is to give them the tools Westminster College has they need to discover what they been constructing green buildare excited about. since on ings 2010, campus when it received its Leadership Students are able to power in Energy and Environmental their environmental movement Design (LEED) certification af- at Westminster by conducting ter opening the Meldrum Sci- hands on research in various ence Center. departments on topics such as include that Campuses recycling, transportation and of their green buildings as part more. deare master We tiy to keep classes projcampus plans creasing their carbon footprint, ect based, Olsen said. Because saving energy, saving water, rewhen students are passionate, waste and saving money. we see change that lasts a lot ducing According to the United longer than a semester. States Green Building Council, Westminster also makes constructions in the U.S. are sure that students are able to responsible for about 40 per- enjoy activities outside of class cent of C02 emissions. 4,300 of to help maintain sustainability these buildings are institutions on campus, running clubs such of higher learning. and the Roots & as Eco-Reall of new Now, 92 percent Shoots, and starting projects renovations at Westminster Colsuch as the bicycle collective, certified. LEED are lege chicken coop and organic garAt Westminster College, den. 68 percent of graduates are required to take a sustainability For more information on related course. Westminsters environmental Our job as educators isnt programs, visit to tell students what to get excited about or what to think ps ITJhat's the big idea? Ever felt empowered to go change the world? a difference in someone elses life? Be ones own kind of Oprah? Westminster Thinks Big does that. Westminster Thinks Big is mini-Ted Talk series that is a a night full of Westminster students, staffs and facultys big ideas. Corey Cronin, of Westminster Thinks Big and senior double major in sociology and political science, said, Westminster Thinks Big is different than any other event on campus because it is a Westminster student event. Everything is ran, everything is planned by students. This will be the third year that Westminster Thinks Big has been produced on campus and will highlight some of Westminsters big thinkers. There is an extensive process to choosing upcoming speakers each year. The process starts each year in March, and is polished all the way up to the event on Friday, Sept. 26. Co-Direc- tor ANNE WILKINS When asked about choosing speakers, Cronin said, Its students going out and finding those professors who have made an impact on their lives, alumni who have made an impact and fellow peers. We go out and showcase them to the world. This year there is an lineup including two current Westminster students. After going through numerous applications and interviews, this years student speakers are Allison Smith and Rodrigo Herall-st- ar nandez. Allison Smiths speech is titled Truth: You Cant Handle the Truth. Smith will be presenting the idea that being a performing artist in a comedy field can be taken just as seriously as someone who focuses on dramatic pieces. Rodrigo Hernandezs big idea is titled Abolish Money, Liberate Humanity. Hernandez will present on how todays society could eliminate money and live a more productive and enriching life. if STAFF REPORTER The other seven speakers are a mixture of faculty and staff. Han Kim, public health professor Nancy Panos-Schmit- t, marketing professor Sarah Shaw, biology professor John Watkins, economic professor Mark Rubinfeld, sociology professor Josie Gay, alumna and human rights advocate Cid Sidelman, provost When one mentions Westminster Thinks Big to current students on campus, they perk up with excitement. Westminster Thinks Big, hands down, is the best event I have ever been to on campus, said Bibek Neupane, junior presidential ambassador and residential advisor. First year students have also caught the big idea bug. Amanda Sevigny, first year from York, Maine said, Its enlightening. As freshmen, we are being exposed to new things, but we get to hear honed in perspectives and inspire our own big idea. 7:00PM V SEPTEMB I worn PHOTO COURTESY OF Corey Cronin DESIGN BY Becca Rettenberger Westminster Thinks Big will be Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Vieve Gore Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased for a $5 donation to the May Term Scholarship Fund on Westminsters website or the Westminster Thinks Big Facebook page. |