UK Campus Activism
In order to understand the culture surrounding climate change at the University of Kentucky, it is important to understand the campus groups that are on the front lines of the fight to save our planet. In light of this, we talked to individuals from various environmental activist organization at UK.
These organizations included:
Our goal in talking to these groups was to find out about:
Findings
Based on our discussions with these groups, we found that there is significant resistant from the University of Kentucky administration in terms of commitments to reducing carbon emissions. While there is pressure from multiple campus groups, the administration has not taken action. These findings show a need for greater participation from a wider range of students and faculty, in order to create the necessary pressure on the administration.
From our discussions, we also learned that campus groups have not focused on the intersection of climate change and food security. Given that food scarcity and starvation will be one of the most direct impacts of projected climate changes, a shift in focus may be helpful in terms of creating a narrative surrounding climate change. In the future, it may be helpful for organizations and individuals to emphasize food security in their climate change discourse, in order to convey the urgent threat that climate change represents.
Finally, we learned from our discussions with campus groups that there are numerous ways for students to get involved. There are many meetings, workshops and rallies each year that anyone can join to get involved. To learn more about these opportunities, and each of the organizations discussed, read on!
These organizations included:
- Green thumb
- The Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition (KSEC)
- The President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee (PSAC)
Our goal in talking to these groups was to find out about:
- The experience of working on a solution to climate change at the University of Kentucky.
- Whether they have focused on the intersection of climate change and food security.
- How one would get involved in their organization.
Findings
Based on our discussions with these groups, we found that there is significant resistant from the University of Kentucky administration in terms of commitments to reducing carbon emissions. While there is pressure from multiple campus groups, the administration has not taken action. These findings show a need for greater participation from a wider range of students and faculty, in order to create the necessary pressure on the administration.
From our discussions, we also learned that campus groups have not focused on the intersection of climate change and food security. Given that food scarcity and starvation will be one of the most direct impacts of projected climate changes, a shift in focus may be helpful in terms of creating a narrative surrounding climate change. In the future, it may be helpful for organizations and individuals to emphasize food security in their climate change discourse, in order to convey the urgent threat that climate change represents.
Finally, we learned from our discussions with campus groups that there are numerous ways for students to get involved. There are many meetings, workshops and rallies each year that anyone can join to get involved. To learn more about these opportunities, and each of the organizations discussed, read on!
Green thumb
Green thumb is UK’s student-run environmental activist organization. According to Caroline Engle, one of the group’s two co-coordinators, the organization is “pushing for stronger environmental commitments by the university.” When we asked Caroline about her experience working with the university on a solution to climate change, her response was impassioned:
“My experience has been incredibly frustrating. The university clearly doesn’t value sustainability, environmental stewardship, or environmental justice. Nor do administrators listen to students. We’ve collected over 1000 petitions, yet our president won’t meet with us. We’ve been lied to and largely ignored. “
This is alarming and betrays the necessity of greater student participation in environmental activism. Clearly the matter isn’t yet perceived as urgent enough to require action.
While Green thumb is deeply involved in the issue of climate change, Caroline has said they have not specifically dealt with the intersection of climate change and food security. She did, however, inform us of an easy way to get involved: “Just show up for a meeting! We meet every Thursday at 7pm in White Hall room 219!
Green thumb is UK’s student-run environmental activist organization. According to Caroline Engle, one of the group’s two co-coordinators, the organization is “pushing for stronger environmental commitments by the university.” When we asked Caroline about her experience working with the university on a solution to climate change, her response was impassioned:
“My experience has been incredibly frustrating. The university clearly doesn’t value sustainability, environmental stewardship, or environmental justice. Nor do administrators listen to students. We’ve collected over 1000 petitions, yet our president won’t meet with us. We’ve been lied to and largely ignored. “
This is alarming and betrays the necessity of greater student participation in environmental activism. Clearly the matter isn’t yet perceived as urgent enough to require action.
While Green thumb is deeply involved in the issue of climate change, Caroline has said they have not specifically dealt with the intersection of climate change and food security. She did, however, inform us of an easy way to get involved: “Just show up for a meeting! We meet every Thursday at 7pm in White Hall room 219!
KSEC
The Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition is a state-wide organization that connects environmental activists groups from universities across Kentucky. KSEC also works on the issue of climate change. Katherine Smith, the KSEC delegate for UK, has had similar frustrations with the administration. She told us that “UK does not seem to want to take initiative when it comes to sustainability or environmental awareness. I believe one reason this is the case is because there is a big pro coal presence on UK's campus that the university wants to appeal to.”
When we asked Katherine about KSEC’s involvement with the intersection of climate change and food security, she said that the organization runs some working groups that have dealt with the issue, but that she hadn’t personally done any such work at UK.
Katherine did tell us some ways that students could get involved with KSEC’s work. She said that “you can get involved with one of our many working groups or campaigns. You can attend our fall summits, spring summits and summer Catalyst program. We also have other events throughout the year that you can participate in.” This provides a lot of potential opportunities for anyone to get involved with KSEC.
The Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition is a state-wide organization that connects environmental activists groups from universities across Kentucky. KSEC also works on the issue of climate change. Katherine Smith, the KSEC delegate for UK, has had similar frustrations with the administration. She told us that “UK does not seem to want to take initiative when it comes to sustainability or environmental awareness. I believe one reason this is the case is because there is a big pro coal presence on UK's campus that the university wants to appeal to.”
When we asked Katherine about KSEC’s involvement with the intersection of climate change and food security, she said that the organization runs some working groups that have dealt with the issue, but that she hadn’t personally done any such work at UK.
Katherine did tell us some ways that students could get involved with KSEC’s work. She said that “you can get involved with one of our many working groups or campaigns. You can attend our fall summits, spring summits and summer Catalyst program. We also have other events throughout the year that you can participate in.” This provides a lot of potential opportunities for anyone to get involved with KSEC.
PSAC
The President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee is an organization is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from across the university. PSAC promotes sustainability and is responsible creating a guidance plan for reducing carbon emissions. The organization is specifically responsible for advising University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto on these issues.
When asked about working with the University, Danielle Empson, a student representative on PSAC, said that “there seems to be a lot of pushback because of the political climate and culture at the university and in Kentucky. There seems to be disagreement about what is economically and technically feasible. The creating of a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan is happening very slowly.”
Like the other organizations, Danielle said that PSAC has not dealt specifically with the intersection of climate change and food security. When asked about getting involved, Danielle said that one needed to be appointed to the committee, but that “the meetings are open to the public and anyone could come and make comments to influence the group.”
The President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee is an organization is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from across the university. PSAC promotes sustainability and is responsible creating a guidance plan for reducing carbon emissions. The organization is specifically responsible for advising University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto on these issues.
When asked about working with the University, Danielle Empson, a student representative on PSAC, said that “there seems to be a lot of pushback because of the political climate and culture at the university and in Kentucky. There seems to be disagreement about what is economically and technically feasible. The creating of a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan is happening very slowly.”
Like the other organizations, Danielle said that PSAC has not dealt specifically with the intersection of climate change and food security. When asked about getting involved, Danielle said that one needed to be appointed to the committee, but that “the meetings are open to the public and anyone could come and make comments to influence the group.”