VT Environmental Coalition Petitions President Steger

The Virginia Tech Environmental Coalition, as a member of the Virginia Climate Action Network, has presented President Steger with a photo petition in an attempt to pass the Presidents Climate Commitment. Other environmental groups all over the state are participating in similar efforts at their respective schools--including UVA, William and Mary, JMU, UMW, Roanoke, Richmond, and others. This is an attempt for student environmental groups statewide to unite and pressure schools together.

At Virginia Tech in particular, a lot of environmental progress has been made over the past few years but there is still a lot to be done--especially considering we have a coal power plant on campus. The Environmental Coalition is calling to make campus carbon neutral and sustainable.

The initiative is a push to develop standards on campuses statewide.

Also of note is Focus the Nation day, which will be held on January 31st. Focus the Nation is a teach in on global warming. Virginia Tech plans to have panel discussions throughout the day, as well as giving teachers the opportunity to bring the issue of environmental sustainability into the classroom as it relates to their subject matter.

In the afternoon, the VTEC plans to have a large panel, and has invited several guests, including Senators Webb and Warner, Congressman Boucher, and Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordham.

After the panel, the EC plans to hold its Green Effect event--with students dressed in green on the drillfield in support of sustainability (similar to the orange and maroon effects of Hokie football games). We are hoping that President Steger will announce his decision at this time.

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