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This fall, junior sustainability studies major Karch Marhofer will introduce a new student group to �Ը������� University. The tentatively named �Ը������� University Sustainability Collective will give students an opportunity to learn more about sustainability practices and help the university, as well as the city of Kent become “greener.” Marhofer’s interest in environmental efforts began in Mansfield, when he became involved in smaller projects such as trash pick-ups and recycling programs. It wasn’t until last fall that Marhofer realized he was more interested in the political science side...

Bins set up in the hallways of the residence halls are beginning to fill up with items won’t make the trip home as students leave for the summer. Clothing, food and even furniture are all placed in taped off sections to be donated to local community members who can put those items to good use. “It’s amazing what the students throw out,” Candy Pollard, program manager of the Portage County Clothing Center, says. “If it’s not brand new, it looks brand new. It’s good stuff.” Last year, students donated 93,000 pounds of useable discards to the community. The goal for this year is set at 100,000 po...

Competition is nothing new for �Ը������� University residence hall residents. In past years, the students in residence halls competed against each other to learn a lesson about reducing their carbon footprints. This year, instead of competing against each other, residence halls teamed up to compete nationally in the benchmark division as part of Recyclemania. “Residents in the dorms are always really active when we do sustainability things,” says Brendan Desetti, president of Kent Interhall Council. Recyclemania is a 10-week program in which universities compete against each other on a nation...

By Bob BurfordThe Arbor Day Foundation has honored �Ը������� University as a 2009 Tree Campus USA University for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. This is the second consecutive year �Ը������� has been named a Tree Campus USA University. �Ը������� met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement in order to receive Tree Campus USA status. Those standards are establishing a campus tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvem...

�Ը������� University Professor Dr. Melissa Zullo was presented the Beginning Investigator Award by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). Dr. Zullo is an assistant professor of epidemiology in �Ը�������’s new College of Public Health. Her research was presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the AACVPR on Oct. 1, 2009.  The mission of the AACVPR is to reduce morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and to improve the quality of life in people with established disease. The AACVPR represents healthcare professionals and r...

Gov. Ted Strickland, together with the Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut, today announced �Ը������� as a Center of Excellence in Biomedicine and Health Care for the state of Ohio. �Ը������� joins 13 other universities throughout the state to receive this distinction.  The Centers are committed to focusing their academic and research activities on biomedical and health care to create jobs in Ohio and further strengthen Ohio’s international reputation as a leader in bioscience research and development. �Ը�������’s Center focuses on the health of individuals and commun...

�Ը������� University recently hired Melanie Knowles as the university’s first sustainability manager. Knowles will guide the university in becoming more cognizant of environmental consequences in its operations and community interactions. She will also work closely with the Sustainability Task Force to serve and help educate the entire university community. Knowles joined the university staff earlier this month. “Melanie Knowles possesses a strong commitment to sustainability as evidenced by her educational and professional experiences,” Tom Euclide, �Ը������� associate vice president for fa...

Proposals for presentations for a virtual New Media Center (NMC) Symposium for the Future, a special two day, live online event to be held October 27-29, 2009, are being solicited through Sept. 14. The symposium, the 14th in the NMC’s Series of Virtual Symposia, will explore actual and potential applications of technology that could impact issues of global importance over the next five years and beyond. The applicability of technology — whether established or emerging — to the social, environmental and educational challenges we face today is a central theme of the symposium. Projects that test...

This is the second installment of a two-part article examining the use of electric and hybrid vehicles on campus. For five departments on the Kent Campus, the use of a GEM (Global Electric Motorcar) or a mild hybrid vehicle has become commonplace. For other departments interested in “going green” with their transportation, Fleet Services can provide assistance. Darwin Friend, superintendent of fleet services, says that the first step for any department interested in an electric or hybrid vehicle is to contact Fleet Services. “After the department contacts Fleet Services, we’ll assist them in d...

This is the first installment of a two-part article examining the use of electric and hybrid vehicles on campus. While the Department of Public Safety just received the university’s first mild hybrid vehicle, other departments are going green with a vehicle known as a GEM (Global Electric Motorcar). The GEM is powered by a 72-volt absorbed glass mat battery pack, has a built-in charger and only requires an extension cord and a 110-volt outlet. There are currently eight GEMs on the Kent Campus. Tom Euclide , associate vice president for facilities planning and operations and Sustainability Task...