University takes steps to become more environmentally friendly
Amanda Crider
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
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Wednesday afternoon University President Randy Dunn signed the Talloires Declaration, making Murray State the first Kentucky university to ratify the document that pushes campuses to be environmentally minded.
According to the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, the Talloires Declaration is a 10-point plan to increase sustainability and environmental education in universities and colleges.
The Declaration was created in 1990 in Talloires, France, by 30 university leaders. Since then, more than 300 universities throughout the world have signed it, including the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Cape Town in South Africa and the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.
Dunn said he supports the Talloires Declaration because it represents Murray State's dedication to increased environmental awareness.
"It's a declaration of intent that campuses across the world have taken a look as to basically indicate their desire to be as green as possible, to look at sustainability and impact in all campus operations," Dunn said. "We have that intent and want to do it.
"It's indicating the intent of a university to keep making progress in this area. It's basically saying that in all the operations and functions of the University, we'll look at sustainability policies as much as we can and have that at the front of our thinking of what we do and I can support that."
Joseph Baust, director of the Center for Environmental Education, said he is excited Murray State is the first Kentucky University to sign the Talloires Declaration.
"Dr. Cheryl Charles in Santa Fe has been working with an organization called Leave No Child Inside," Baust said. "She was doing a presentation in Bowling Green … and asked a question, wondering how many of us knew about the Talloires Declaration. No one raised their hand. It really resonated with me and I did more research when I came back to Murray."
Erin Black, senior from Radcliff, Ky., is one of the students who approached Dunn with the Talloires Declaration.
According to the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, the Talloires Declaration is a 10-point plan to increase sustainability and environmental education in universities and colleges.
The Declaration was created in 1990 in Talloires, France, by 30 university leaders. Since then, more than 300 universities throughout the world have signed it, including the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Cape Town in South Africa and the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.
Dunn said he supports the Talloires Declaration because it represents Murray State's dedication to increased environmental awareness.
"It's a declaration of intent that campuses across the world have taken a look as to basically indicate their desire to be as green as possible, to look at sustainability and impact in all campus operations," Dunn said. "We have that intent and want to do it.
"It's indicating the intent of a university to keep making progress in this area. It's basically saying that in all the operations and functions of the University, we'll look at sustainability policies as much as we can and have that at the front of our thinking of what we do and I can support that."
Joseph Baust, director of the Center for Environmental Education, said he is excited Murray State is the first Kentucky University to sign the Talloires Declaration.
"Dr. Cheryl Charles in Santa Fe has been working with an organization called Leave No Child Inside," Baust said. "She was doing a presentation in Bowling Green … and asked a question, wondering how many of us knew about the Talloires Declaration. No one raised their hand. It really resonated with me and I did more research when I came back to Murray."
Erin Black, senior from Radcliff, Ky., is one of the students who approached Dunn with the Talloires Declaration.
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