The Green Group is making plans for a greener campus during its second year at Wichita State University.

According to Jennifer Subero, vice president of outreach for the student organization, the Green Group’s goal is to educate people about green issues on campus and promote awareness of how students can be more environmentally responsible.

“We encourage responsibility in how our members communicate the importance of green living,” said Rich Reed, founder and former president of the Green Group. “Every student I talk to understands that green issues are important and each has their own area of concern.”

Whether it’s recycling, global warming or alternative fuels, Reed said students are aware, and they are concerned.

“Our task is to find events and programs that connect with their existing interest in green issues,” he said, “and provide them with information and ways to act on their concern.”

The group is working on many projects, but Subero said a main issue is the remodeling of current campus recycling bins.

“We are working on getting approval to make the bins more visible,” she said.

The group also uses a display case in Hubbard Hall to educate people about the positive impact of recycling.

Last November, the group held a small recycling contest on America Recycles Day for whichever department or organization collected the most paper, aluminum cans and No. 1 and No. 2 plastics.

This winter another competition will be held, and all Greek houses will be competing with a general bin for students.

“The prize for the winner is still a surprise,” said Holly Jackson, vice president of internal communications. “But it promises to be a good one.”

Reed said recycling helps the university not only by saving money on trash fees, but also by bringing in extra revenue.

Recycling also helps reduce littering and saves landfill space.
One of the largest events the group is working on is Greenfest, which ran for the first time last April. Another Greenfest is in the works for the upcoming spring semester.

“The purpose was to increase the focus on green issues beyond Earth Day,” Reed said.

For Greenfest, auto vendors were invited to showcase their biodiesel and hybrid vehicles. The organization also showed “Revolution Green,” a biodiesel film, and an alternative energy panel discussion was held after the film.

The group held a Green Filmfest the week of Nov. 10. Titles selected for the film fest include “The Story of Stuff” and “The End of Suburbia.”

A new venture for the Green Group, with the support of local groups and citizens, is an Off-the-Grid concert, where electricity and natural gas won’t be used.

If the bands need power, Reed said, it will come from an on-site solar panel or wind generator.

“There will be a wide variety of local musicians and a ton of environmentally friendly activities,” Jackson said.

She said she strives to take advantage of every opportunity to tell others about ways they can benefit their shared planet.

“We’re small,” she said of the organization. “But we have great ambitions, and soon we’ll have the strength to reach our goals.”

For more information, go to the group Web site at http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=wsugreengroup or e-mail wsugreengroup@wichita.edu.