The plight of environmental student groups...

Being part of an environmental student group is certainly a mixed bag. It can be both a wonderful and terribly frustrating experience. If you have ever been part of one of these groups (or any student group for that matter), you may fully understand this experience.

Environmental student groups are often characterized by a variety of obstacles that can inhibit the overall success of the group. Firstly, they are often comprised of student volunteers. While these people are often hard-working and energetic, it is still a volunteer position. Especially for a student, who may have a variety of extracurricular and school-related activities going on, putting a great deal of time and effort into a group may be quite difficult. This is a plight shared by nearly every small student group. Many of the students involved in the group may have differing commitments to it, which could result in levels of infighting between those who put in lots of time and those who don't.

One particular problem related to environmental groups in particular is the image portrayed. Environmentalism is often seen as something for hippies and children of the counter-culture, rather than being open to those who may be slightly more mainstream. As a result, the public and the general student body may have predetermined opinions of a group, potentially reducing interest in the group and its activities. Those who may have some interest in joining such a group may feel inclined to pass if they don't believe they're 'green' enough to be part of the group.

The environment is a fairly broad topic, encompassing everything from trees and 'nature' to broader aspects of human processes and sustainability. Determining where a group stands in its approach to the environment can be a difficult one, as members may want to focus on specific issues, while others may think it unfair to ignore the broader aspects of the environment.

This is the primary barrier of the environmental student group. What should it be trying to do?

Students are naturally full of zest and vigour and this may eminate into ambitious notions of what can be achieved. Unfortunately, student groups are limited in their resources and may often shoot too high. This is especially common in student groups that are small and getting on their feet.

Are environmental student groups bad? Not at all. At Trent University, the sustainability group Sustainable Trent has achieved a variety of notable goals. From the implementation of recycling facilities on campus, to large conferences and Lug-a-Mug programs, the group is highly successful. It is comprised of hard-working and diverse volunteers. It also managed to obtain a great deal of levy funding in order to increase its abilities, from guest speakers to funding student sustainability projects.

But even this group is not immune from the plight of student groups, like wavering volunteer commitments, membership turnover due to graduation and determining the scope of goals for the group.

Environmental student groups may have high levels of ambition, but getting carried away and shooting too high can be the downfall for many groups. As Sustainable Trent has demonstrated, success can be met through smaller and achievable goals. This is often the best course of action for groups that suffer from many of the aforementioned limitations. Recognizing the realities of being a student group can be the most important aspect, otherwise you might want to kiss the group goodbye.