Recap On SEAS February 23 Meeting

The Student Enivronmental Action Society met on February 23
at 5:30 p.m. in Building 13 in room 230.

At the meeting, there was anticipation to discuss the Save Our Sanctuary campaign that SEAS organized to stop the proposed construction in the UWF Athletics Facilities Master Plan on the the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary located next to Village East and the UWF back entrance. The developments include a golf course,a driving range, IM fields, and two parking lots.

The meeting opened with SEAS President David Lee giving the itinerary for the group's planned April 19 trip to an environmental conference called Powershift.

Jeremy Kester, SEAS member and rain biology major says that Powershift not only gives students the opportunity to learn about environmental sustainability and climate change, but it challenges them to organize student activist groups to promote and influence legislation that supports sustainable energy.

"Powershift is a conference held biannually to engage students in lectures, workshops, and training sessions which are focused on aspects promoting sustainability and preventing further climate change in areas like legislation, community development, political procedures, the formation of more "green collar" jobs, and initiatives on American campuses," said Kester.


He adds, "One of the overriding themes of this conference seems to be organizing student activists for the purpose of initiating and motivating a shift in lawmakers-- or at least influencing them by lobbying or assembling large numbers of students (aka voters)-- towards enacting, or at the least, promoting sustainability initiatives and legislation for 'green' energy."

The other main topic raised in the meeting was the Save Our Sanctuary Campaign. For those who haven't been keeping up with campus news, SEAS has been featured in the Voyager recently for their Save Our Sanctuary campaign.

Lee encouraged members to conjure up their own definitions for what the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary means to them and the community at large. In the current UWF Master Campus Master plan there are provisions which conserve certain natural areas on campus if designated as "environmentally sensitive" and used for "limited amounts of human activity such as pedestrian trails, boardwalks, outdoor education, etc." SEAS is planning several demonstratations on campus to ensure that students are informed about UWF's Athletics Facilities Master Plan and the SOS campaign to stop construction.

SEAS members were vocal in their responses to Lee's challenge. A few members already formed definitions of what the area meant to them. One commented that the area is truly a sanctuary for both students and its natural inhabitants such as the bald eagle that was recently photographed in its nest in the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lee urged SEAS members to also come up with suggestions for revamping their website and Facebook page. The meeting closed with Lee showing off some of the posters that SEAS members have designed for the Save Our Sanctuary campaign.