Every now and then I receive a message from people around the world entreating the UoG to be more engaged in reducing emissions, increasing efficiency or moving towards carbon neutral behaviour. The impetus for these cries often comes from an advertisement of another university or conglomerate of universities proudly announcing to the world their green or carbon reducing initiatives. The claims are laudable and I often wonder what these institutions are doing ............ when you look it is surprising to see what they aspire to because, quite frankly, in most cases the UoG has been doing that for some time.

For example, recently a group of American presidents banded together and determined that they would reduce emissions by establishing a bus pass for students, would start to implement energy saving/reduction strategies, and would fit energy efficient light bulbs on their campuses. Without making a song and dance about it, Guelph did these things ages ago: the Central Student Association (CSA) negotiated the bus pass many years ago, we have been working to improve the efficiency of windows, heating and ventilation systems across campus for some time, the students implemented a "green tax" which the university will match for energy saving/retrofit programs, and we began a program to change light bulbs a couple of years ago.

And Guelph goes on leading - this year the main store in the University Centre has really gone "Down to Earth". The store has been completely renovated and offers all sorts of natural, locally made products and produce for consumption, and now markets organic and bio-based materials for sale - including T-shirts and underpants made from bamboo fibre!

We will not stop here. At the end of the year, we will introduce a "footprint calculator". Working with Zerofootprint in Toronto we will launch a calculator that allows you to determine your own impact on the world. It will allow users to think about ways in which they can individually and we collectively can reduce our carbon footprint and perhaps create a way for us to set up competitions between groups on campus to be the most effective at reducing our footprint.

So next time you read about some cool things at other places, just stop and think that in many cases Guelph did them first or has certainly taken the lead with innovative ideas.

Posted by Alastair Summerlee at 02:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This year The View from the President’s Window is changed. It always changes at the beginning of the school year with the arrival of new students but this year the change is literal. I am looking out of my window on the fourth floor at the remodeled turning circle in front of the University Centre. With financial support from both GO Transit and the provincial government and from the City of Guelph, the turning circle has been modified. There are parking bays for City and GO buses and the car park in front of the Centre has been turned into a green lawn. GO Transit will offer frequent services to Square One in Mississauga and a regular service to the York Region in the GTA. With the City buses bringing students, faculty and staff to campus and probably an increased ridership making connections with the GO buses, this will be a very busy hub. For this reason, private cars will be prevented from coming to the front of the University Centre. The drop off point will be the car park on South Ring Road. This will take a little bit of time to get used to but I ask for patience from people. It will improve road traffic safety and certainly improve services for people coming to and from the University and perhaps those taking advantage of the buses to go shopping.

Posted by Alastair Summerlee at 08:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The summer is almost over and with bated breath we wait for move in day. Once again, the forecast is for another fine day for the new students and their families and friends to arrive.

This summer has been unusually busy for everyone, I think. I know that it has been for me. What started as a journey to Africa with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) in May, resulted in being invited back to Botswana courtesy of the Government of Botswana. I have been helping the Tertiary Education Council develop the concept of the new university in Botswana known as the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). The project is very exciting and I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BIUST Council on behalf of WUSC to offer help as the new university develops. There will be opportunities for students, faculty and staff at Guelph to be involved in working with BIUST.

Both traveling through Africa, a continent torn by strife, poverty and disease and thinking about how to develop a new university has provided a unique opportunity to reflect on what is special about universities and particularly universities in Canada. It made me think about how important freedom of expression is and that no matter what the problem or issue there are always two sides to any debate and conflict. One of the many luxuries that we can enjoy in Canada is the right to express our opinions free from influence, bias and discrimination and this right should be extended to everyone. That privilege is very special and it demands a willingness to engage in open debate and to appreciate that there are many sides to an argument. We all have a duty to defend the right to these freedoms but also a responsibility to acknowledge that for each view along one path, there is always a view in the opposite direction. The only way that humanity can chart a course through these differing opinions is to engage in free and open debate.

We are very fortunate in Canada to live in a society that welcomes open debate. We need to celebrate that fortune by speaking out in defence of such rights, but we also have to understand there is always more than one side to an argument and to be respectful of the ideas of others.

I look forward to the start of term. Every September, the arrival of the new students heralds a renewal of the commitment to the values of education and we all need to appreciate the fortunate position we have in Canada and in Canadian society.

Posted by Alastair Summerlee at 06:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)