Dear Environmental Community and Visitors,

2/5/2010

The ERC plans to make a greater impact on San Jose State University this semester, greater than ever before. In its 43rd year of existence on this campus, and its 40th anniversary of Earth Day at SJSU, the ERC prepares itself to move into a new phase on environmental activism.

One of the primary features that is new to the ERC are its many subdivisions. There are now five in total. These subdivisions allow students to focus their efforts in particular areas of sustainability on campus: waste, conservation, and transportation. We also have groups now dedicated to planning our major events and representing the ERC on campus to administrators and student government.

EVENT COMMISSION

(EVECOM)

The event commission is dedicated to the primary conference event of the semester, Sustainability Week. This event is a series of speakers, panels, and workshops that will instruct attendees on serious environmental issues. One of the most important things about Sustainability week is bringing environmental issues to people who otherwise would not have an opportunity to learn about them. Also, some workshops and panels will be geared towards people who already have an interest in the environment. Sustainability Week ends with Earth Day, the national celebration of the Earth and its life systems. This event will end with a keynote address from the Mayor of San Jose and other speakers. All of these events will be managed by the Event Commission.

PROGRAM SPECIALISTS

(PROSPEC)

The Program Specialists tackle the task to represent the ERC and its functions. Their primary tasks are managing the ERC email, the website, making t-shirts for the class, and being knowledgeable about the different groups in the ERC. Additionally, they will help reorganize the ERC’s office, which over the years, has collected a lot of antiquated and obsolete matter. The Program Specialists will develop a greater sense of community within the ERC as well as establish ERC’s role in the administrative community at SJSU.

RESOURCE CONSERVATION

(Rescon)

SJSU’s campus is covered in non-sustainable vegetation, such as lawns, ivy, and non-native invasive plants. Resource Conservation’s goal is to mend the university’s many green spaces into native gardens, reducing the amount of water necessary to maintain vegetation on campys and benefitting the native environment of Santa Clara County. Additionally, they will be working with conservation agencies to put a limelight on the Peregrine Falcon, a native and special bird of prey which currently nests in downtown San Jose.

TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT

(TRANSDEV)

An important feature of SJSU is the mass amount of commuters that come to school every day. This is why Transportation Development provides necessary focus in an area with a huge environmental impact. Transportation Development hosts a monthly Bike to School Day each semester, encouraging students, faculty, and administrators to ride bicycles to school instead of driving. The day also celebrates those who use other self-powered transportation, such as scooters and longboards, as well as public transit. Transportation Development also serves to support programs from AS Transportation Solutions.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

(WASMAN)

One of the greatest environmental issues on campus is the mass amount of waste generated each day. There is already a recycling program on campus, but due to budget cuts, it has been less available to tackle this large campus’ proliferation of garbage. Waste Management will be providing support to the recycling program, assisting at events to ensure a “zero-waste” policy, and developing creative ways to teach students about better waste practices. Waste Management faces one of the greatest issues at SJSU–perhaps even the world.