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  • Green Quad Community Garden
  • Green Quad Community Garden
  • Green Quad Community Garden
 
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Green Quad: Empowering People for Positive Change

Being Green is about discovering your power to affect positive change and then taking steps to exercise that power. It is about imagining a world that is socially, environmentally and economically sustainable, and then actively creating the world you imagine.

Here at the Green Quad, we have imagined a living/learning facility that reduces negative environmental impacts, increases positive local economic impacts, and builds a strong sense of community. We have not only imagined this facility, but we are actively working toward creating it.

This site contains information about our journey toward a more sustainable future, and we hope you find useful information for your own journey, but more importantly, we hope it inspires you to stop by the Learning Center and meet us, attend an event, get involved in some of our projects, or even involve us with your projects and creations.

 
Green Learning Community

The Green Learning Community is an innovative, experimental community of 25-30 students who are helping to define what sustainability means for future generations.  Students in the Green Learning Community live together on the same floor of the Green Quad and have the opportunity to initiate and participate in their own special programs.  Students are able to participate in field trips to places and events of interest, attend community dinners, and have informal meetings with faculty members, visiting scholars and activists.

 

The deadline to apply is February 1st. 

 

Please Visi: http://www.housing.sc.edu/rsl/westquad.html

 

 

 
Students Foster Earth Day’s Evolution Into Earth Week at USC
Earth Fest PosterSince Earth Day was originally founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in opportunity, it only makes sense that our educational institution embraces the April 22 holiday every year with vigor. This year, however, USC’s celebration of Earth Day has proliferated into an entire Earth Week, encompassing campus-wide events with student organizations, faculty and the Green Quad Learning Center, of course.
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Sustainability Week

USC SUSTAINABILITY WEEK, 2009

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15th

The Story of Stuff and other Stories, 7:30 p.m., Green Quad Learning Center Lounge

Sustainability Week kicks off with the Green Action Film Series presenting The Story of Stuff and other Stories at 7:30 p.m. in the Green Quad Learning Center Lounge.  The Story of Stuff is a fast-paced, animated, 20-minute investigation of the underside of our production and consumption patterns.  The film exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world.  It'll teach you something; it'll make you laugh; and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.  We’ll also look at other short clips about green consumerism and have discussion and activities following the video.  Come learn about STUFF!

 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19th

Global Sustainability, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Green Quad Learning Center

Faculty and students will participate in a panel discussion on Global Sustainability from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, as part of the Green Quad’s “Green Pedagogy” series.  The goal of the discussion is to establish a student group focused on issues of global sustainability.  The agenda is as follows:

11:30- Introduction, Phil Barnes, School of the Environment

11:45-Presentation by Net Impact

12:00- Selma El Ouardighi, “Development in Islam and Morocco”

12:20-Ed Carr, Department of Geography and Walker Institute, “Sustainable Development in Africa”

12:40-Discussion of interest in a student group on global sustainability

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21st—CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY DAY!!

Rocky Branch Creek Planting, 8:30-12:30 a.m.

The Community Service Intern Program, in conjunction with the Green Quad and Sustainable Midlands, is celebrating Campus Sustainability Week by planting flowers on the banks of Rocky Branch Creek!  We will be cleaning and planting daylilies and lupine on the banks of Rocky Branch Creek as part of a bank restoration and stabilization effort of the area.  No previous knowledge of gardening or tools needed, just an excitement for keeping our Earth healthy and beautiful!  The event is open to up to 14 students. Please wear clothes appropriate to get dirty in and plan for light manual labor.  Meet in front of Russell House Suite 227 (Student Life Center) by 8:30 and expect to return around 12:30.  Please register online by Tuesday, October 20th.

 

Campus Sustainability Fair, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Russell House Patio

Come celebrate Campus Sustainability Day at the Sustainability Fair on the Russell House patio from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  We will be hosting campus and community groups involved in local sustainability efforts.  Come meet representatives from SAGE, Net Impact, USCycle, Green Quad, City of Columbia, Long-board Club, Johnson Controls, and others.

 

Biodiesel Blowout , 7:00-8:00 p.m., Green Quad Learning Center

Net Impact will host Biodiesel Blowout (a biofuels presentation and discussion) at 7:00 p.m. in the Green Quad Learning Center.  The focus of the Biodiesel Blowout will be the versatility, sustainability, and economical soundness of biodiesel.  Versatility will cover most of the science behind biodiesel, how biodiesel is made, why it works so well, and the drawbacks.  Sustainability will cover the green aspects of biodiesel as well as why the local production of biodiesel--that can be made in your back yard--is easy and can reduce dependence on foreign oil.

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22nd

The New Major in Environmental Science, 6:00 p.m., Green Quad Learning Center

The School of the Environment will be hosting an information session on the new environmental science major at 6:00 p.m. in the Green Quad Learning Center.  This is your chance to learn about course requirements and how the new major can provide you with intellectual and career opportunities.

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23rd—EARTH SUMMIT!!

The second annual USC Earth Summit will be held on Friday, October 23rd, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Green Quad Learning Center.  The Earth Summit is an opportunity for all students, faculty, and staff to come together to plan the next year of initiatives designed to make USC a more sustainable place.  Michael Koman, Director of the Office of Sustainability, will start the process by presenting our existing operational and educational initiatives, followed by an open discussion of priorities and new ideas.  The Earth Summit is sponsored by the Environmental Advisory Committee, the Green Quad, and the School of the Environment.  For more information, contact David Whiteman, Director, Green Quad Learning Center for Sustainable Futures ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  All students, faculty, and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend.

9:00        Opening Welcome, Tom Syfert & David Whiteman (Co-chairs, Environmental Advisory Committee)

9:10        Keynote:  Ted Moore (Vice-President for Planning), Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

9:20        Earth Summit Process and Update on Current Efforts (Michael Koman, Director, Office of Sustainability)

9:50        Updates from EAC subcommittees on Resources, Climate Change, and Education and Outreach

10:20                 Break-out Sessions:  all attendees join one of the subcommittees to set priorities and timelines, develop strategies, and start implementation

11:40                 Key note:  Cinnamon Carlarne (Law School), Think Local, Act Global:  Responding to Climate Change

12:10                 Lunch

12:40                 Subcommittees meet to finalize work

1:00                    Subcommittees present one year strategies and timelines to meet goals

2:00                    Conclusion