Jersey City, N.J. – Saint Peter’s College students who have taken action to reduce the College’s carbon footprint will be recognized on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the third annual Focus the Nation teach-in, a national initiative dedicated to promoting climate change awareness and the creation of the clean energy economy. The students residing in the eight Saint Peter’s residence halls competed to reduce water and electricity use over a three month period during the fall 2009 semester, which saved the College approximately $8,000 in utility costs – projecting more than $30,000 in annual savings.
Taking place on the College’s Jersey City campus in McIntyre Lounge from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Focus the Nation will also include a faculty panel discussing “green” ideas; Mr. Omar Freilla, the founder of Green Worker Cooperatives, is the keynote speaker.
The panel, which will be held at 10:00 a.m., will have five faculty members speaking on pollution and public health costs from their individual area of expertise. Dr. Jeanette Wilmanski, assistant professor of biology; Lisa Garsman, director of the undergraduate nursing program; Lew Livesay, instructor of English; Dr. Jennifer Ayala, assistant professor of education; and Paul Bartlett, instructor of economics, will participate in the panel. Ernabel Demillo, lecturer of communication, will serve as the master of ceremonies. A brief question-and-answer session will follow.
Mr. Freilla, who is scheduled to speak at 11:00 a.m., preaches environmental justice in defense of poor communities. He developed Green Worker Cooperatives, a South Bronx-based organization, in response to high unemployment and decades of environmental racism – the idea that minority communities are targeted as pollution sites. The organization is dedicated to addressing environmental and economic problems in the community, and implementing new sources of income that don’t exploit human labor, but are also environmentally friendly for residents.
The students will be recognized by Doug Demeo, assistant director of campus ministry, at 12:00 p.m. He will present awards to the residence halls that most reduced water and electricity usage; students will also be awarded prizes for multimedia and essay contests.
Admission to this event is free, and open to the public.
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Saint Peter’s College, founded in 1872, is a Jesuit, Catholic college in the liberal arts tradition located in the heart of Jersey City, N.J., with a branch campus in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and course offerings on the Jersey City Waterfront and at various corporate sites throughout New Jersey. Educating over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 50 programs, Saint Peter’s College is committed to academic excellence and individual attention, preparing students for a lifetime of learning, leadership and service in a diverse and global society.