Ball State University
EN-3: Student Life

Ball State University has four student groups whose central focus is sustainability: The Ball State University Energy Action Team (BEAT) is a student-led group dedicated to increasing awareness of energy use on campus and creating energy reduction initiatives. http://bsubeat.com/ The Ball State University Emerging Green Builders (EGB now USGBC Students) is an interdisciplinary group of students, each with unique talents and diverse backgrounds. They examine and discuss passive design and renewable energy as they work to become the future leaders in the green building industry. http://cms.bsu.edu/-/media/WWW/DepartmentalContent/LDI/PDFs/LeadSocietySustainedFuture.pdf The Ball State University Natural Resources (NR) Club raises environmental awareness and the concern of students for the preservation and conservation of the natural world through service projects, speakers, and activities. http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/nrem/academicsadmissions/beyondclass The Ball State University Students for Responsible Consumerism presents resources and accurate information to consumers in an effort to help them understand the (American) consumer's role in the global economy. A consumer should strive to understand how they contribute to injustice, as well as what other barriers prevent ethical standards in our global economy. http://responsibleconsumerism.tumblr.com/

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The Quantity Food Production Class of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences serves meals to the public each Wednesday for lunch and each Thursday for dinner in the Allegre Restaurant. The Allegre Restaurant is located in the Applied Technology Building on the campus of Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. Seating for lunch is from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays. Seating for dinner is from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on Thursdays.

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1. Ball State University hosted biennial international interdisciplinary Greening of the Campus Conferences which allowed people representing diverse areas in university communities to share information on the social, environmental and economic issues of sustainability. Over the years, key note presentations have been made by: _____Ray Anderson _____George Basile _____Janine Benyus _____Robert Berkebile _____Geoff Chase _____Anthonly Cortese _____Robert Costanza _____John Dibiaggio _____Christine Ervine _____Pliny Fisk III _____Susan Flader _____Hilary French _____Eban Goodstein _____Jonathan Harris _____Hazel Henderson _____Nan Jenks-Jay _____Frances Moore Lappe _____Richard Norgaard _____Chris O'Brien _____Michael Ogden _____Sabine O'Hara _____David Orr _____Sara Parkin _____John Perlin _____David Quammen _____Jerome Ringo _____Debra Rowe _____John Ryan _____Jane Shaw _____Cindy Shea _____Michael Shuman _____Sharon Stine _____Dorceta Taylor _____Mathis Wackernagel 2. The Ball State University Bracken Environmental Fund has been used to sponsor three major lectures for student, faculty, admnistrators, staff, and surrounding residents of the Muncie Community. They have included: _____Thomas Friedman New York Times foreign affairs columnist Tom Friedman shared his outlook on the crises of destabilizing climate change and rising competition for energy from his new book Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—and How It Can Renew America (September 2008), a number one New York Times bestseller. http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CentersandInstitutes/COTE/News/20082009/ThomasFriedman.aspx _____Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Speaker. Bracken Environmental Lecture Series. 'Our Environmental Destiny'. One of Time magazine's 'Heroes for the Planet,' Mr. Kennedy discussed the role that natural resources play in our work, our health, and our identity as Americans. A passionate environmental speaker, he reminds us that we have a responsibility to protect and preserve our planet for future generations. Mr. Kennedy is chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeepers, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the former president and now chair of the Waterkeeper Alliance. _____Paul Hawken In the Inaugural Bracken Environmental Series Lecture, Paul Hawken discussed ""Natural Capitalism: The Coming Efficiency Revolution" a book co-authored with Amory and Hunter Lovins. Hawken is a respected businessman, environmentalist and author whose books include the best sellers "Growing a Business" and "The Ecology of Commerce," plus "Seven Tomorrows" and "The Next Economy." His books have been published in more than 50 countries and 27 languages. Hawken chairs The Natural Step, U.S., and co-chairs The Natural Step, International. ____James Gustave Speth James Gustave Speth is a professor of law at the Vermont Law School and a senior fellow at Demos, the Democracy Collaborative, and the Tellus Institute. He served as Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies from 1999 to 2009. From 1993 to 1999, Dean Speth was Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and chair of the UN Development Group. Prior to his service at the UN, he was founder and president of the World Resources Institute, professor of law at Georgetown University; chairman of the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality; and senior attorney and co-founder, Natural Resources Defense Council. ____Alexandra Cousteau A National Geographic Emerging Explorer, filmmaker and globally recognized advocate on water issues, Alexandra Cousteau continues the work of her renowned grandfather Jacques-Yves Cousteau and her father Philippe Cousteau, Sr. She has mastered the remarkable storytelling tradition handed down to her and has the unique ability to inspire audiences on the weighty issues of policy, politics and action. Alexandra is dedicated to advocating the importance of conservation and sustainable management of water in order to preserve a healthy planet. Her global initiatives seek to inspire and empower individuals to protect not only the ocean and its inhabitants, but also the human communities that rely on freshwater resources.

1. Outdoor Pursuits The Outdoor Pursuits Program includes a climbing wall, outdoor equipment rental and retail center, classroom, as well as trips programs and outdoor skills clinics and workshops, and an outdoor resource center. Outdoor Pursuits Rental Center Going outside and having fun sometimes requires a lot of expensive, specialized gear. Through the BSU Outdoor Rental Center BSU students have access to the equipment required for outings like backpacking, camping, canoeing, biking, and fly fishing. 2. Indiana Outdoors is a weekly half-hour program featuring Indiana’s natural resources and recreational opportunities. Ball State students, faculty and staff produce the magazine-style show with help from Indiana Department of Natural Resources and WIPB, Ball State’s public television station. Focusing on historic sites, state parks and natural history of Indiana, “Indiana Outdoors” takes viewers to locations from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River and all points in between. 3. The university has received 61 regional Emmy nominations and won 18 since 2000, contributing to Ball State being named Indiana's Broadcasting School of the Year for three consecutive years. "The documentary is a strong example of how Ball State has become a national model for immersive education in news, film and entertainment,". "Our projects are student-centered and allow undergraduates and graduates to work side-by-side with some of the best professionals in the field." As an out-growth of this effort, Alexander Mejia, an Indianapolis resident who graduated in the spring, and Tony Prizevoits, a junior, received their nomination for a flood awareness video produced for the Red Cross. The project was submitted by their independent firm, TAV Productions. Indiana Outdoors and Connections Live, a televised magazine show, was nominated in the 'professional category' for magazine programs. NewsWatch, the university's student-run nightly news television program was nominated in the 'student program' category. Outdoor pursuits also offers a bike shop for students to fix personal bikes and a bike mechanic to make minor repars and adjustments to student's bikes.

The Freshman Common Reading and Writing Experience serves as the first academic assignment for incoming freshmen. Students receive a copy of the book during summer orientation along with support materials. Students are required to complete the related online writing assignment before arriving on campus and then participate in small group discussions following Freshman Convocation. The book is used in a variety of fall semester classes and sets the theme for the Freshman Connections learning community programming. The author of the book visits campus during September and presents a free public lecture.

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Each fall semester Facilities Planning and Management hires student employees to be part of the Ball State Energy Action Team(BEAT). These students will work to improve awareness and reduce energy consumption among students.

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BEAT-The Ball State Energy Challenge is an energy-reduction competition for students and staff in residence halls and academic buildings. The Energy Challenge encourages students and faculty to reduce their use of lights, appliances, and heat in order to cut back on energy consumption and lower Ball State's carbon footprint. Two weeks before the challenge begins, BEAT's Energy Challenge Planning Team measures the average energy use of each building. These numbers, measured in kilowatt hours (kwh), are used as a baseline reading and are compared to the weekly energy-use measurements during the three-week competition. In other words, each building competes against themselves as they try to lower their average consumption by the highest percentage. BEATS's goal for all buildings is to lower their energy use by 10% from the baseline reading. The residence hall and academic building that exceeds this goal and saves the most energy will win a grand prize package for the entire building.