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The SewaneeMountain MESSENGER Vol. XXX No. 6 Friday, February 14, 2014 Sewanee Decoding the Mountain Goat Trail University by Taylor Ballard Haiku Messenger Intern Launches This Mountain is always finding Contest new and interesting ways to connect with nature. One new innovative Competition Haiku seems easy project, a series of QR codes on posts limitless, even, ’til you along the Mountain Goat Trail, was run out of sylla conceived and carried out by Forrest for Green Pilkington as his Eagle Scout project. Th e University library is having a Pilkington is a senior at Franklin Haiku Contest in honor of National County High School and is the son Projects Haiku month. All faculty, students, of Rhonda Pilkington and Scott Pilk- staff and community members are ington of Monteagle. Th e University’s Offi ce of Environ- welcome to participate, regardless QR codes, shorthand for Quick mental Stewardship and Sustainability of age. Entries will be accepted Feb. Response codes, are square-shaped is launching a Green Revolving Fund 14–28. matrix barcodes. When scanned with (GRF) competition to fi nance energy Haikus can focus any aspect of life a smartphone or tablet, QR codes link and water effi ciency, renewable energy in Sewanee: “Just keep it clean and the user to an online source of infor- and other sustainability projects that Sewanee-centric, please,” said Cari mation. generate cost savings. Proposals for Reynolds. Th e top 10 haikus (chosen “Th e codes are easily updated and GRF projects are now being accepted by library staff) will be printed as can evolve and expand over time,” from across the community. messages in custom fortune cookies. Pilkington said. “Once the QR signs Cost savings from the projects will Writers of the top two haikus will win were put up, it was just the beginning be tracked and used to replenish the gift certifi cates to Crossroads Cafe or of their message. Th eir potential for Tieta Keetle, a senior at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, examines a QR code fund for subsequent rounds of green Yamato in Decherd. change gives them a lasting meaning- on the Mountain Goat Trail. Photo by Taylor Ballard investments, establishing a sustainable While haiku traditionally follows fulness.” funding cycle while cutt ing operating the 7–5–7 syllable format, due to The five posts cover five topics: in-depth and interactive information that dividing it into topics would en- costs and reducing environmental im- space restrictions, entries must be fauna, history, geology, fl ora and con- to be accessed at the push of a butt on. able trail users to obtain an optimal pact. Sewanee’s initial GRF is seeded less than 70 characters (including servation. Each post was strategically Also, unlike a standard text marker, the amount of information in a leisurely by a $50,000 grant from the Jessie spaces) to be eligible to be printed as placed in an area that the topic best information can be saved and shared. and eff ective way. Ball duPont Fund, and matched by fortunes. All entries will be displayed represented. For example, the history “Th e Internet is an incredible, fl ex- Th e Mountain Goat Trail Alliance, $100,000 from other gift s to the Uni- in the lobby of duPont Library. More QR code was placed near a railroad ible resource and can be used to teach which oversees the trail, supported versity. GRF projects include lighting information, rules and online entry mile marker, a tangible piece of history more than any sign mounted to a post,” Pilkington’s project. upgrades, mechanical replacements, are available at <sites.google.com/site/ along the Mountain Goat Trail. Pilkington said. “Finding modern technology on automatic controls, insulation, low- sewaneehaiku>. For more informa- Unlike a traditional sign with All the information could have a nature trail is a pleasant surprise. It flow fixtures and building envelope tion contact Reynolds at <cshepher@ limited data about one tree or plant been condensed into a single QR works so well because Forrest took upgrades. sewanee.edu>. species, the new QR codes allow for code, but Pilkington said he thought (Continued on page 6) Th e GRF program is taking appli- cations from the campus community (faculty, staff , students and community Sherrell Kicks Off members). Deadline for this round Civic Association Learns of funding is March 11. Th e fi rst phase of this program is limited to University Campaign For Congress facilities and campus. Projects should About Drug Court be submitt ed by completing an online Lenda Sherrell of Monteagle announced her decision to run for U.S. Con- GRF project submission form. gress in Tennessee’s fourth congressional district on Feb. 11 in Grundy and Community Chest Only $8,000 From Goal Those projects that appear most Rutherford counties. Sherrell told rooms packed full of enthusiastic supporters by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer competitive in each funding round will that she is running for Congress because “we can do bett er.” Civic Association members and guests at the Feb. 5 meeting heard Steve be more fully evaluated, engineered “Now more than ever, our families need representatives in Washington that and described as GRF Project Pro- refl ect their values and that can get things done,” Sherrell said. “Th ere’s plenty Blount, assistant district att orney for the 12th Judicial District, who presented an overview of the Franklin County Drug Court and drug treatment program. posals, a joint eff ort by the applicant of fi ghting going on in Washington, but rarely is it a batt le on behalf of Tennes- and the Offi ce of Sustainability. Th e see families.” Prior to the program in the business portion of the meeting, there was a review of the Sewanee Elementary School desegregation program on Jan. 19 and an criteria that will be used to evaluate Sherrell’s first cam- projects include: paign event took place update on the Community Chest fund drive. Off ering background on the origins of the Franklin County Drug Court • Payback duration (projects with in her home county a payback of six years or less) of Grundy at the Grun- and drug treatment program that serves the 12th Judicial District, Blount cited statistics showing that since the War on Drugs began in the 1960s, “we’ve ar- • Capital cost (projects that cost dy County Historical $15,000 or less) Society. The second rested a lot of people, but we still have the problem, and it may even be worse.” Since 1980, the U.S. prison population has quadrupled, and drug convictions • Specific environmental ben- event was at Pa Bunk’s, efi ts, such as resource conservation or a locally owned organic have increased tenfold. In Franklin County, 75 percent of all incarcerations are drug-related. It costs between $20,000 and $30,000 annually to incarcerate greenhouse gas reduction market on the square in • Potential for community engage- Murfreesboro. Speakers an individual, Blount said. If the children of that individual end up in state custody, each child costs the state ment and collaboration at the events included • Educational benefi ts Roger Layne of Grundy $31,000 a year. An individual diverted from the Th e Green Revolving Fund is an County; Lenda’s hus- Seeking Band important component of the Univer- band, Jim Sherrell; Bed- prison pipeline to the Drug Court Program, however, costs the state only sity’s Sustainability Master Plan’s com- ford County resident mitment to reach carbon neutrality as and farmer Jane Tucker; $4,000. for Fourth Unlike probation, those admitt ed an institution. Th is program will be MTSU student Zach the basis for substantial conservation LeBlanc; and campaign into the Drug Court Program receive Street Dance counseling, addiction treatment and investments over the coming decades. treasurer Ted LaRoche. Energy conservation is one of the three In her kick- intensive drug screening. More than The Fourth of July Street Dance 50 percent successfully complete the key cornerstones of the plan, along off speech, Sherrell said, planning committ ee is starting to look with renewable energy and carbon “ My mom was a Repub- program and recidivism is low, 10 for a band to play at the 2014 event. percent in the 12th Judicial District off sets. For more information, includ- lican, my dad a Demo- Interested bands should be able to ing the submission form, go to <htt p:// crat—but in my family for those who complete the program play a variety of music, have played (Continued on page 6) about.sewanee.edu/sustain>. we could have conversa- at other venues before and have their tions around the kitchen own equipment, according to Valerie table, disagree, and still Lenda Sherrell Parker, chair of the street dance. get along because at the end of the day we were still family. Our communities P.O. Box 296 To submit a band for consideration, Sewanee, TN 37375 are like a family, too—we can fi nd solutions together if we decide to stop blam- send a music sample via email (with a ing others and focus on results.” link to see or hear the band, such as Sherrell was born, educated and has raised a family in middle Tennessee. Th e on YouTube) or send a CD (with the daughter of a rural lett er carrier and a school teacher, she grew up in Pleasant band name clearly marked on it and Hills. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University. A certifi ed public type of music). accountant, Sherrell has helped major hospitals and educational institutions March 15 is the deadline to be with plans and budgets to serve their communities in a fi scally responsible and considered for this year’s street dance.