From environmentally conscious clubs to green volunteering opportunities,
students at Salem State are passionate about playing their part in
sustainability efforts
By Brielle Laurent, Edited by Devaigh Rose
It is no surprise that thousands of students attend Salem State University for its
supportive community and strong academic programs, but there is something else
bringing students in – campus sustainability.
It is easy to notice the impact of student involvement in sustainability as soon as one
steps onto campus. Some of the first things you might see are the beautiful green
spaces, low-mow zones, and flourishing agriculture. These features help foster local
biodiversity, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and provide a more welcoming
environment.
Continuing to walk through campus, one has a high chance of crossing paths with one
of several sustainability-related student organizations. Salem State University is home
to the Greenhouse Club, Geographical Society, Biological Society, Earth Science
Association, MASS-PIRG, and more. Members attend regular meetings where they
plant in the campus greenhouse, advocate for environmental action, volunteer around
Salem, and provide fellow students with various educational opportunities.
It is also common to cross paths with a student attending one of the many
sustainability-related courses offered at the university. Courses span several areas of
discipline and are offered every semester. Interested in politics? Try out
Wildlife and Public Policy. Interested in English? Try out Climate Change and Climate
Fiction. Interested in philosophy? Try out Environmental Ethics. There truly is a
sustainability course for every student’s needs and interests.
Students also have volunteer opportunities they can apply for such as the semester-long
Sustainability Council internship which provides hands-on experience with campus sustainability projects or the Civic Engagement Fellowship which allows students to gain experience with social justice activism and skill development. First-year students can even get involved by participating in the annual First-Year Day of Service, which brings students to spend a day volunteering in the Salem community, often in social and environmental justice related initiatives. Not to mention the annual Darwin Festival and Earth Days.
Wherever you are on campus, there is a community of students and faculty just waiting
for you to join in. There is no doubt that Salem State University has fostered, and will
continue to foster, a student body that is dedicated to eco-friendly initiatives and
climate action.
Brielle Laurent is SAFE’s Spring Communications Intern.