State University of New York at Cortland
EN-3: Student Life

Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP) focuses on simple ways to help our environment. Their current focus is on zero waste, animal rights, vegetarian & veganism and more. Better World Club aims to bring together any and all students that are interested and motivated to see the world change for the better. Through brainstorming, research, discussion, and detailed project design we will create and implement solutions to the following 10 initiatives: Climate, Hunger, Sickness, Poverty, Health, Wildlife, Balance, Connection, Energy, and Growth. Although petitions, marches, and protests are wonderful means by which to spark awareness, promote conversation, and pressure legislative change, the solutions that we at Better World club will be focused on will employ methods that do not rely heavily on government action in order to succeed. Instead, better world club looks to create solutions to issues by circumventing the government medium and going straight to the universal source of influence to make change in our modern world: money. NYPIRG: The New York Public Interest Research Group is New York’s most effective consumer and environmental student directed advocacy organization. NYPIRG empowers students to become leaders, activists, and organizers. They work to effect positive political change through planning events that create awareness for pieces of legislation that will benefit students and New York State communities. They work on a number of issues including voter mobilization, consumer action, hunger and homeless outreach, higher education and clean air/energy/recycling. This semester they co-sponsored several sustainability events. SUNY Cortland Recreation Association (SCRA) The student-run club provides members and participants with opportunities to socialize, exchange ideas, give service to the community, and expand educational opportunities around outdoor recreation. The club fosters professional development and helps students establish connections within the field. This club supports development of environmental ethics through interaction with the environment in a safe and enjoyable manner.

Campus Model Garden: The SUNY Cortland Campus Garden was created in 2013 for the purpose of educating the SUNY Cortland community and the larger Cortland community on sustainable gardening in an urban setting. The Garden is maintained and its programs are coordinated by the SUNY Cortland Garden Advisory Committee which includes student members. Student interns maintain the gardens and work closely with the GAC to plan agricultural projects.

The Community Bike Project provides an alternative, more sustainable transportation options to students, faculty, and staff by providing a fleet of bicycles in the form of Yellow, Red, and three-wheel Green Bikes. The CBP was founded by students, faculty and staff at SUNY Cortland who are passionate about the environment, sustainable transportation, and health and wellness. With day to day operations handled by students, the Community Bike Program also provides students with experience providing a sustainable service to a community.

Green Days Events that include presentations, events, activities that focus on building knowledge, skills, and attitudes on sustainability. Although Green Day events are held throughout the year, there is still a focus of activities during "Earth Month" of April. Some events are targeted more for students, but all events are open to the entire campus community and the public, and includes presentations from students, on-campus and visiting faculty, campus and community energy/environmental professionals, administrators, and community members, as well as hands-on demonstrations and activities related to environmental and sustainability awareness.

The Campus Artist and Lecture Series (CALS) is coordinated by a college committee comprised of students, faculty, and staff charged with enriching the cultural life of the College and the surrounding communities. CALS sponsors an annual performing artist series that coincides with the traditional academic year. Invited artists have included professional dance companies, musicians, and so much more! Through these events, CALS strives to present its patrons with a wide variety of genres and experiences.

SUNY Cortland has an outdoor pursuits program. This program organizes hiking, backpacking, kayaking and other outings that follow Leave No Trace principles. Outdoor Pursuits (OP) strives to be the vehicle for transformational education by bringing the outdoors to the SUNY Cortland community. They believe life was meant for good friends and great adventures. OP has recently partnered with the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center to work towards offering a more inclusive opportunity to all. Outdoor Pursuits consists of six main program areas: Adirondack Trail Blazers Tripping Program Workshop Series Outdoor Gear Rental Center Cortland Bike Project Climbing/Bouldering Wall Trip leaders are trained in Leave No Trace principles, and Wilderness first aid.

One building at West Campus is a designated green building where all residents agree to make a positive commitment to maintaining this community expectation. Evidence of this commitment shall be through managing your own sustainability efforts and the sustainability efforts of my guests as it relates to living a sustainable life on and off campus.

The SUNY Cortland Green Representative Program is sponsored by Residence Life and Housing and Physical Plant. The mission of the Green Rep program is to inspire sustainable lifestyles through peer to peer environmental education programs that will ultimately contribute to a more eco-friendly and sustainable campus. A team of seventeen individuals are hired as Green Reps each semester, one for each residence hall. These Green reps educate our residents and campus community by creating educational resources for the hall such as bulletin boards, hosting programs in the residence halls on campus and collaborating to create campus wide events each semester!