Trent University's summer endeavours...

Universities are interesting things. The idea of one probably brings thoughts of learning, knowledge and especially at a liberal-arts school like Trent, progressive policies. While we could bat around the actual definition of progressive for days, I use the term to describe policies that are more holistic, perhaps edgy and certainly less than holistic.

Environmentalists should be familiar with the idea of progressiveness. After all, environmentalism in its modern form is a component of progressiveness.

University's are often at the forefront of developing or at least implementing new technologies and ideas. I'm currently working at Trent University over the summer and I'm witnessing a whole swath of these new technologies and ideas being put into place.

Thanks in large part to a generous donation Montreal Canadien's GM Bob Gainey, Trent is currently constructing one of Canada's greenest buildings. Known as the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, the straw-bale building will be powered by the sun, have innovative rainwater collection systems and have composting toilets.

Last week, this year's Trent graduates gathered with guests, faculty and staff for convocation. The convocation turned out to be a very "green" affair. Apart from grads sporting green gowns, free transit passes were given out to discourage driving to the ceremonies and encourage the use of public transportation and graduates were encouraged to take the "green pledge", an oath to take the environment into consideration during one's future endeavours. The most notable aspect of the ceremonies was the decision to not provide bottled water, which was a significant change from the norm at Trent and throughout North America. The move was expected to save thousands of bottles from being consumed. Appropriately, bottled water's worst nightmare and Canada's own Maude Barlow was awarded an honorary degree as well.

A significant addition is also being added to the Athletic Centre, which is supposed to be standardized at one of LEED's (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) highest bars.

But we must also acknowledge the institutional nature of Trent. It may be a wonderful breeding ground for progressive ideas, but every breeding ground needs an infrastructure. As such, the 'green' endeavours of our small university this summer may very well be overshadowed by the 'not-so-green' activities.

While the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre might be one of Canada's greenest, the DNA Building being built just north of it is anything but. Despite a multi-million dollar price tag, the facility is being built very quickly and the materials are fairly cheap in quality. There is no effort to make the buildings architecturally interesting or to even make them fit with the rest of the school. And because Trent is almost completely surrounded by Nature Areas, a good deal of greenspace has been removed for building and parking lots.

To the north of the campus, a highly controversial hydro dam is being built. While it will deliver greenhouse-gas free power to Peterborough, its construction has resulted in the clearance of acres of Trent's famous Nature Areas.

Roads are parking lots are being put all over campus. One such road, currently designated 'temporary', has gone over a wonderful piece of grassland by the athletic facility that once housed two beach volleyball courts. Unfortunately, I've learned over the years that nothing like that at Trent is really temporary. And even if it were, I highly doubt they'd put the volleyball courts back.

Even some of Trent's most modest 'green' efforts are being squashed. Literally. A month or so ago, landscapers started digging up tons of grassy area around the sides of the buildings to replant grass seeds. Just as that slowly started to get going, we find this morning that a construction crew brought all their trucks into the replanted area. Bye bye grass.

Trent is a wonderful place. It's full of greenery and is trying its best to maintain its 'green' reputation. Unfortunately, sometimes other forces are a little too strong. The worry is that these other forces will eventually remove so much of the 'green' that Trent will lose the majority of its natural environment. That environment, both physical and amongst the people, is what makes Trent unique and so great.