UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 33, Page 5
May 28, 1992
Brown, Sypherd halls named first-year Ecolympics champions

     The winners of the 1992 Ecolympics are the supersavers who live
in Brown and Sypherd residence halls.
     According to the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC),
which awarded the gold, not only did these eco-stars recycle their way
to the top, they demonstrated efforts to reduce water and electricity
consumption as well.
     In keeping with the environmental theme of the Ecolympics,
several trees will be planted near the entrance of the Bob Carpenter
Sports/Convocation Center, with a bronze plaque in the area
commemorating their accomplishment.
     Acting as Ecolympic coaches, SEAC members visited residence halls
and supplied reminder posters about recyling and reducing water, heat
and electricity use. Students Craig Zylka, Kim Strauss, Brian
Gallagher and Sean Brooks worked closely with plant operations and
housing and residence life, in organizing and setting up the program
to monitor the consumption of utilities, to show students that their
efforts did make a difference.
     According to Tom Vacha, director of plant operations and
chairperson of the recycling subcommittee of the President's
Environmental Concerns Committee, the Ecolympics was a pilot program
this spring that will be more fully implemented next fall.
     During the 1991-92 academic year, more than 12 tons of bottles
and cans were collected from residence halls. Thanks to the efforts of
SEAC during the Ecolymics, three and one half tons were collected
during the last six weeks, Vacha said.
     Plant Operations also has begun a paper and cardboard recycling
program. As of the end of April, 175 fewer tons of trash were sent to
the landfill than the previous year at that time.
     "We're off to a good start and have learned a lot this year and
hope that next year's Ecolympics will be even more effective," Vacha
said.
                                               -Sue Swyers Moncure