C-N Leading Community Green Movement with Students for Environmental Action

Ashley West, Jefferson County Post Staff Writer

With so much emphasis regarding climate change, the newest trend is the going green movement. Carson-Newman is helping to lead this community movement with the fairly new organization, Students for Environmental Action. Dr. Susan Karr, the environmental science professor on the campus, is over the program and encourages students to do more out in the community. Since the formation of the organization under her advising, the amount of recycling options and locations on campus have doubled, even including battery recycling bins for general usage. The students involved try to inform and help the community make note of the services available by participating in off-campus events such as cleaning up Mossy Creek and volunteering at various animal shelters. However, it’s not just the students on board. Even Carson-Newman University President, Dr. O’ Brien, is all aboard the “green movement.” Dr. O’ Brien has been instrumental in installing conservation friendly lighting to conserve energy. He has also encouraged residence life leaders to post signs reminding students to turn off the water and lights when they are not in use. The thrust on campus to go green and conserve resources is becoming a part of daily campus life and Students for Environmental Action are hoping to carry the trend out to the community, as well.  Dr. Karr and her student activists have made the goal of their hard work to make the community a safer and healthier place for everyone.