If a picture is worth a thousand words, then here is a picture of environmental sustainability here at Wayne State.

As the sustainability coordinator here at WSU, I have a pretty good idea of the sustainability opportunities and challenges for the campus within this transcending field. Sustainability has the ability to provide a different understanding about ourselves. Currently, there are reasonable questions about how our society sustains its present standard of living. We all are faced with the aspect of doing more with less. As we find answers to these sustainability questions, it is important that our educational institutions integrate these answers into the general curriculum to have a greater influence on the student population who are the future leaders, educators, researchers, and parents. Just as students learn about issues that have a broad context within the general education curriculum, so too should they learn about sustainability. After all, it makes sense for students to be educated about potential ramifications involving sustainability that could affect their future. The integration of sustainability into the curriculum provides a great opportunity for WSU to further its effect on the world.

In examining sustainability here on campus, it was important to look not only at curriculum integration but also at its interface with research. Importantly, environmental sustainability research is happening. The research being conducted will chart key sustainability findings on a global scale while addressing local issues. Given WSU's location in a post-industrial urban community, researchers have the ability to look at sustainability from the scientific angle as well as the social science challenges facing the Detroit area.

Wayne State is well-positioned to deliver a unique and real-life sustainability education as well as provide research opportunities in a Motor City setting that is looking for ways to sustain itself in so many different ways. The challenges of Detroit present an unparalleled educational opportunity for students to understand what sustainability truly embodies for future generations. For example, there are WSU researchers looking at land remediation methods that could serve as models for contaminated land around the world. Also, the midtown campus provides a prime location for water researchers. WSU is located in the heart of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin that contains 20 percent of the freshwater on the planet. With nearly 40 million people in the United States and Canada who live on this transboundary water system, there are limitless opportunities to investigate the man-made challenges that threaten this eco-system.

Campus facilities present another great opportunity for WSU as there are a number of environmental initiatives being implemented across campus. Recycling has high visibility with bins located in every university building. Recycling is the final component in the reduce, reuse, recycle triangle and provides the basic foundation for environmental stewardship. Yet, there are also initiatives that go unseen. Currently, WSU is implementing a lighting retrofit that will replace older fluorescent bulbs with a more high-efficient version. In addition, WSU is improving its heating and cooling efficiency by repairing the pneumatic controls and thermostats - a simple energy conservation measure that will save costs for the university while improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Of course, each one of these initiatives will have great benefits for the campus and provide opportunities for the university to build upon.

The opportunities are immense here at WSU. For the university to truly become a campus that embraces environmental stewardship, all of these components need to be considered in unison. Sustainability is not something that stands alone. Just as it weaves its way through every aspect of a community it does the same throughout a university. WSU must begin the process of melding together an integrated sustainability plan into all aspects of the campus. This action will move WSU to the forefront of universities in sustainability because it will help develop a culture of environmental stewardship. Importantly, this culture doesn't happen overnight and will not happen without a strategic plan. The Office of Campus Sustainability is charged with working together with the university schools, departments and offices to bring this plan to the WSU administration. After all, a plan of this magnitude requires buy-in from top to bottom. Sustainability must be embraced by all areas of the university to make the biggest difference in our campus, our community, and our world. This is our opportunity.

At a 1987 United Nations conference, sustainability was defined as meeting the present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Use only what you need so that there is something for tomorrow. At WSU, the sustainability opportunities are endless and the biggest challenge is getting individuals to think about more than themselves. Sustainability is a decision. Think about it. Future generations will depend on your decision.