Fresh on the heels of the developing youth environmental movement, Clean Energy for UMD held it's initial meeting on an awkwardly warm evening in February of 2007. The thirty students, as well as Dr. Bruce James--serving as the group's faculty sponsor-- present at the beginning of the meeting were just enough to fit into the room located on the first floor of Francis Scott Key Hall. The seven students that came late would have to squeeze in the room, either standing or sitting on the antiquated AC unit. The mindset and agenda of the group initially were wide open. A group of students, including myself decided that something more had to be done to combat the effects of climate change at the University then what the campus chapter of MARYPIRG could provide. With the help of the SGA's current student group's adviser I drafted the group's constitution, found 25 University ID numbers and a faculty sponsor; thus Clean Energy for UMD was born. We held the kick-off meeting to garner interest from students who were frightened by the effects that climate change would have on their future livelihoods. After a quick ice-breaker, that if I my memory serves me right was what is your favorite smell?, we gave a quick debrief as to where the University stood on energy issues. We discussed how students could further get involved to increase renewables in the University's portfolio and decrease the campus' energy use. Mainly this involvement would be the manifestation of the nationwide campaign known as the “Campus Climate Challenge” on our campus. Shortly after the debriefing, students began a dialogue of how they believed the University should be reacting to the burgeoning Climate Crisis. Observations varying from the obvious waste of energy occurring from the stadium lights being left on well into the night after football games, to the fact that we don't see any solar panels at our University, to the idea that we should be forcing our University to buy carbon offsets by 2010 to eliminate our campus' carbon footprint as soon as possible were thrown out into the ether. The reaction from most in the room was of cautious optimism. After all, at that convergence of time, apathy and fear of social retribution for following one's own inhibitions were still burning at the culture of College Park. In 2007 a predominating thought and one that still runs through the minds of many, was that as an individual we act only if we can be effectual. That acting solely in accordance with one's own conscience is a wasted effort doomed to fail at the hands of this complicated social hierarchy humans have presently fit ourselves into. It is of the utmost importance to be effectual in accordance with your own social conscience especially when going up against the most socially, environmentally and spiritually unsustainable society the planet has ever seen. Given that we are a generation that has been bombarded by material insecurity since birth, we socially find it hard to act out of accordance to the present paradigm. In those early days we were searching blindly as young people to find answers pressing people who were on payrolls, people who were of the old paradigm, but knew that something had to be done. The difference was that we were fresh-- I mean it like OUTKAST means it, but I also mean it like my vegetables don't rot. Jokes aside, the real difference was that as young people, we had not yet been as jaded by this disenfranchising society. We believed we would become the passionate reformers of a new generation. Be the positive part of the history books, you know. Initially the movement and the group were in slight disarray. We were moving in the right direction, but with multiple vectors veering of center, distracting students from the ultimate end goal: a carbon neutral campus and College Park community. We were unsure of what the fastest route was and frankly every student had an idea of how to get there. The reverberations of the best way to organize the student group and the environmental movement at the University of Maryland would not become clear until nearly now. After returning to a UMD for Clean Energy on September 21st as an alumni I realized that this once semi-disoriented group of students with good intentions has now constructed themselves into a finely tuned political machine to be reckoned with in the state of Maryland. Through countless hours of petitioning, event planning, campaign meetings, dead-end conversations, sleep deprivation, lobby meetings with state and federal officials, arguments over recruitment tactics, dirty looks for not doing that thing you promised you'd do at the last meeting, bus rides to Annapolis for rallies, metro rides to DC, global warming rally's that were ironically snowed upon, the building of 23 small, wooden turbines, making friends, our omnipresence in the campus community, and so many ice-breakers you'd think the glacier's were already melted the group has finally reached a plateau in which the member's are being effectual in accordance to their own conscience. An inspiring feat indeed. Given the past accomplishments of the group and given their present campaign, there is no better time for a University of Maryland student to become involved in UMD for Clean Energy. While it may seem a bit discouraging to begin acting on someone else's campaign, if you become involved in the group you too might someday be running a campaign to directly impact the livelihood of all future generations. This not so far off campaign can be of your own inception, you must dream and not deny your creative inhibitions. It starts with small inspired steps and turns into leaps as the culture around you changes in accordance to your passion and ability to inspire. This blog or thought is as much an homage to the hundreds of people that have loosely sifted through the membership of the group, to the thousands that have signed our petitions, as it is a call to action for students still remaining at the University of Maryland to not squelch that billowing voice telling you that your ideas can change the world. I have seen it happen. The past accomplishments of UMD for Clean Energy and the greater environmental movement stand as a testament. Since it's humble, disoriented beginnings this group has morphed into a moving giant acting in accordance to the demands of present and future generations, but without the present political dogma that would stifle creative aspiration. These successes have provided living proof that rational ideas will take hold in the hearts of others if you believe enough in yourself to put them forth. Please act with diligence, love, peace, and what I like to call positive vibration in your endeavors. Keep your head up and believe more firmly with what is in your heart and in the hearts of those you recognize to be engorged with positive passion than what anyone else is telling you. With that you will first win your first campaign and eventually change the world. Davey Rogner Founding member of Clean Energy for UMD and treasurer from February 2007- May 2008 UMD Alumnus of Spring 2009 CommentsLeave a Reply |  AuthorUMD for Clean Energy is a student activist group at the University of Maryland. In the past, they have successfully petitioned the university and University System of Maryland Board of Regents to commit to carbon neutrality by 2050. This past spring, they were successful in collaborating with statewide environmental groups to pass the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, which sets the strongest short-term emissions reduction target in the nation – 25 percent reductions from 2006 levels by 2020. The group has also recently engaged at the federal level, lobbying for climate legislation which passed the House of Representatives this past June and will be considered by the Senate in the fall. ArchivesMarch 2010 Categories |
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