As the threat of climate change continues to grow, Florida State University is actively committed to creating a sustainable learning environment.
In August of 2019, Florida State’s silver sustainability ranking was upgraded to gold. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education recently ranked Florida State a gold university, improving from its silver ranking in 2015.
Sustainable Campus Program Coordinator Cyndel Brunell reflects on the improved score by saying, “I think you’re seeing more of a trend or more of a culture of sustainability on this campus being reflected in that score.”
For the first time, Florida State’s strategic plan now includes sustainability. Florida State’s strategic plan features six focused and interlocking goals that the university plans to achieve by 2022.
“That’s a huge commitment from the university to say in any decision we are making for the next couple of years we are prioritizing sustainability,” Brunel notes.
While there are several initiatives and clubs on campus that helped the university in the improved ranking, one group on-campus that stands out is Garnet and Gold Goes Green, or G4... you may have spotted them at your last tailgate.
“Garnet and Gold Goes Green is basically just like an organization on campus, and we just go around and collect recycling from tailgaters around the stadium just to help reduce like the amount that goes to waste and things like that,” explains Carrie Suddes, a G4 Volunteer.
Malyce Collins, the G4 Coordinator, highlights that the overall mission of G4 is to “promote sustainable behavior change among the FSU community.”
Every home football game, volunteers arrive two hours early to reduce the amount of waste produced and make sure it is disposed of properly. Many fans look forward to seeing volunteers in their bright yellow shirts stopping by.
Advocates at Sustainable Campus want to remind students that they have more power than they think and that small acts make a big difference.
As Brunell points out, “Overall, this miss conception that sustainability is stuff, but I think we like to just think of sustainability as small actions that save the world.”
No matter what side of the field you are on, everyone can take steps to be more sustainable.
Representatives from Sustainable Campus explain that they still have a long way to go to make Florida State University 100% sustainable and hope to continue to receive higher rankings.
If you are interested in volunteering with G4, volunteers meet two and a half hours before every home game at the Seminole Garden, and all are welcome.
