Learn more about Senator Candidates at http://my.umbc.edu/groups/pss/documents/613

Learn more about the CUSS Candidates at http://my.umbc.edu/groups/pss/documents/645

AND VOTE on the PSS Blackboard site. Click on the link that reads "PSS Election 2011-2012"

For more information about the senate, go to the "documents" tab and find the senate bylaws and 2010-2011 fact sheet.

For questions or more info, contact Stanyell Bruce, PSS vice-president, at ext 5-2632 or bruce@umbc.edu

AASHE has released its first annual report, “STARS: A Year in Review.” From sustainability research opportunities to sustainable dining efforts to campus-wide social justice initiatives, this report details the sustainability efforts found in the inaugural submissions to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, Rating & System (STARS). Thirty-seven institutions submitted their STARS Reports in time for inclusion in the review. There are more than 200 additional institutions participating in STARS that will be submitting reports for a Rating in the coming year. The complete Review may be accessed from the STARS website: stars.aashe.org.

In addition to a broad range of information provided in the institutional reports submitted by STARS Participants, “STARS: A Year in Review.” captures the insights and knowledge gained by those institutions during the reporting process. Of particular note are the following findings:

• Of the first 37 submissions, which came from a variety of institution types, eight earned a Gold Rating, 19 earned Silver, nine earned Bronze, and one earned a Reporter Rating.

• Seven of the eight STARS Gold institutions scored more than 17 of the 18 possible points in the Co-Curricular Education subcategory, which focuses on non-academic programming that supports sustainability learning.

• On average, 58% of the applicable points in the water subcategory were earned by STARS Participants.

• Ten institutions earned 100% of the points available in both the Diversity and Affordability subcategory and the Coordination and Planning subcategory, which together include a total of 13 sustainability indicators.

• A total of 71 sustainability innovations were reported (nearly two per institution)

Launched more than a year ago by the AASHE, STARS is the only system of its kind that involves public reporting of comprehensive information related to a college’s or university’s sustainability performance. STARS provides institutions with a standardized assessment tool to evaluate their progress toward sustainability. The system includes 139 environmental, economic, and social indicators, which are divided into four categories related to campus activities: Education & Research, Operations, Planning, Administration & Engagement, and Innovation. All of the requirements for evaluating and scoring an institution are transparent and made publicly available.

STARS is a self-reporting system, which is open to all institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Canada. Participants collect data that fulfills the criteria for STARS credits and submit their data through an online Reporting Tool. Once the institution’s report is submitted, it receives a Reporter, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Rating and the STARS Report becomes publicly available for viewing on the STARS website. Prior to becoming public, the STARS Report requires sign off by the institution’s highest ranking executive.

The STARS Program provides ongoing opportunities for institutions to participate. Registration information and additional details on the program are available on the STARS website, stars.aashe.org.

Furnished Apartment for Subletting

(Available for June, July, and August)

5 minutes from UMBC; on the shuttle route; one bedroom; one living room; bathroom; kitchen with crockery; great lighting and ventilation system; close to MARS and Giants shopping centers; heat, hot water, and gas included in the rent; refrigerator; microwave; television; study table; carpeted

If you’re interested and want more details, feel free to contact: dockyard@live.com

College students! Fed up about your job prospects?

Want to change things? Get your briefcase AND JOIN THE CAUSE!

A curious protest is being crafted by the Briefcase Brigade. They are launching a nationwide campaign to send students to congressional offices on April 27 with BRIEFCASES.

Their stated goal is to stop budget cuts in Washington DC that might threaten jobs for recent graduates.

We at USDemocrazy aren’t quite convinced that this is a “grassroots” student  movement…. smells a bit more AstroTurf (ie artificial). Who is behind it and why is an interesting question.

Still it will be interesting to see if this “movement” gets moving. What are you doing April 27?