Panther Magazine, April 13, 2017 Florida International University
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Florida International University FIU Digital Commons Beacon Magazine Special Collections and University Archives 4-13-2017 Panther Magazine, April 13, 2017 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_magazine Recommended Citation Florida International University, "Panther Magazine, April 13, 2017" (2017). Beacon Magazine. 28. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_magazine/28 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Beacon Magazine by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PANTHER MAGAZINE Vol. 1 Issue 11 A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University One copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents. OUR CARBON PAWPRINT PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDENT AFFAIRS 2 Panther Magazine – Thursday, April 13, 2017 PantherNOW.com SO FRESH, SO CLEAN Office of Sustainability encourages low-carbon practices at University MARTINA BRETOUS “We’ve been working with departments much water are we using, things like that.” rise, or what they call sunny day flooding, News Director to try and see what they can do in their While the office does put a focus during high tides and we have … research own areas to increase our score on the on the environment, Dutton notes that centers on campus that go out, measure hile many believe different credits that pertain to them so we sustainability reflects a much bigger scale. flooding and we can see the trend over time sustainability are working on it,” Dutton said. “Hitting “... Sustainability, and a lot of people is increasing,” said Dutton. “And a lot of applies only to STARS gold is definitely a very hard goal get this wrong, is not just about the time, people think sea level rise is like a the environment, in a short amount of time so we’re getting environment,” said Dutton. “Sustainability slow tidal wave coming from the ocean but the Office of close to there and hopefully, we can reach is actually the intersection of three pillars that’s not the case here in South Florida.” Sustainability at the University strives to which is: people, planet and profit, which is Because South Florida sits on porous showW it comprises people, planet and profit. one reason why we look at our employees limestone, the ocean water comes from “The Office of University Sustainability [and their salaries].” underneath, Dutton says, penetrating the is here to make FIU green. So basically, Dutton says students can also participate rocks and going through the sewer system, our overall mission is to reduce our in these practices on their own and help which is why flooding can often be seen in carbon footprint,” said Alexandra Dutton, We have already experienced sea make the University more sustainable. areas that aren’t near the ocean. sustainability manager at the Office level rise, or what they call sunny “Our most popular program that we have The Office of Sustainability piloted the of Sustainability. “We do that through day flooding, during high tides is our Nature Preserve volunteer days …” RideFlag app in the spring, a carpooling education outreach with our students, and we have … research centers said Dutton. “We get a lot of students that service designed and customized for FIU, faculty and staff, and working behind the on campus that go out, measure are either there for extra credit … and we and plans on doing a “huge push for it” in scenes with the different departments to flooding and we can see the trend also get students who are out there because the fall after they’ve worked out some kinks implement projects, procedures or policies over time is increasing, they like to be in the environment and it’s in the application, Dutton says. that … affect us operationally.” like another form of working out.” “At FIU, we are largely commuter based Dutton says the office has many Alexandra Dutton The office also organizes events … so the carbon emissions from just students “reporting-type projects,” to the Sustainability Manager throughout the year including Campus commuting to campus is our largest force of Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment Office of Sustainability Sustainability Day, RecycleMania, and emissions which is why we work with the and Rating System —a nationwide self- various tabling events depending on what Department of Parking and Transportation reporting framework designed to evaluate the staff decides. to do carpool initiatives, or have electric universities’ sustainability performance— “I feel like we are in a time of transition vehicle charging stations and improve the and her role is overseeing those projects and and, especially for climate, we’re at a really public transportation around campus to the various programs carried out by the staff that by August.” crucial time where we need to make some other campus and around the community.” In 2015, President Mark B. Rosenberg The STARS rating evaluates Universities hard choices and changes to preserve our For more information on the Office of joined the American Campuses Act on in four areas: academics, operations, environment and planet for our future Sustainability, visit gogreen.fiu.edu. Climate, launched by the White House, engagement and planning/administration. generations and if we don’t make those and issued a six-part pledge to increase “We report things like how many choices, we will definitely suffer the Tune in to the Claw & Growl to hear low-carbon practices on campus. One of the classes does FIU have that incorporate consequences,” said Dutton. Alexandra Dutton, on The Roar, Student University’s goals was to reach a 15-point sustainability, or what are we paying our South Florida is particularly vulnerable Media’s radio station, on Friday, April 14 increase in their rating by 2016 and a gold employees, is it a fair salary?” said Dutton. to climate change, Dutton says, and that at 10 a.m. to talk more about the office’s STARS rating by August of 2017, when the “Even things down to the basics … what is appears in the sea level rise. initiatives. annual report is due. our recycling and waste [percentage], how “We have already experienced sea level Series educates students EDITOR’S NOTE on endangered fish Politics aside, the BARBARA BRITES Assistant Professor Yannis P. Ocean Series goal is to bring in environment is important Staff Writer Papastamatiou, Ph.D. who is speakers knew to FIU that are going to be talking about the doing environmental research, he Ocean current sawfish numbers, what usually marine science related, and the Organic Farmers’ Life Series: he has learned about them and and to really expose them so Market. A last stand: how long he predict it will take the community knows more One of the strongest Ecology and for sawfish population to be at about the studies taking place pieces in our paper comes Conservation its healthy size again. in the South Florida area. on page six; columnist of the Smalltooth Sawfish The free event is open to the LaQuavia Smith explains in TSouthern Florida hopes to public and will take place from CAYLA the effects of systemic educate the community about 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April BUSH oppression and racism on this endangered fish. 21, 2017 at Murray E. Nelson environmental practices According to Aileen Soto, Government and Cultural across the nation. program manager for FIU in The numbers for the Center, Located in Key Largo. We are living in times Our Sports writers the Keys, the Series is going to Sawfish is severely “It’s a good way for students that will test the endurance explain the effect people focus on a species of fish called declining so, the more to get to know some of the of our environment. When have on the environment, the Smalltooth Sawfish, which we understand about new faculty members that are we made the list of themes and most importantly is one of the world’s most this organisms the more joining the university and it is for this semester, we the University on the endangered fish and South we can help protect also a good way to gain some had no idea the political ecosystem we’ve created. Florida is probably one of the and conserve them, insight into the research that statement that running an The environment goes last places where we can find this faculty are doing,” Soto environmental issue would beyond nature; it’s also it. Aileen Soto said. “If students are interested be. the culture and community “The cool thing about this Program Manager in getting involved in this type Politics aside, we put which we’re immersed in. sawfish is that it gets to be about FIU in The Keys of studies, this is a perfect together a comprehensive It’s been a pleasure and 15 feet or more but very rarely forum for them to get to know guide to reducing personal an honor to contribute to people ever sees it,” Soto said. faculty in a more casual setting effects on the earth we our environment as editor “The numbers for the Sawfish as well as network with other inhabit. Our News section in chief this past year. As is severely declining so, the people that are also interested explains the purpose of the I prepare for graduation, I more we understand about this “He is going tell us what he in this topic.” Office of Sustainability know that Student Media organisms the more we can help has learned about the life cycle School of Environment, and provides information will be in very capable protect and conserve them.” of this organisms and how can Arts and Society hosts events for students who want to hands for the next year, It’s important to talk about we help protect and conserve every third Friday of every get involved in protecting and that they too will organisms in our community them, Soto said.