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MMC Joins the Fight Against Global Warming

(New York, NY) In June 2007, President Judson R. Shaver joined other college and university presidents in becoming charter signatories to the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPPC). Colleges and universities in the ACUPPC model ways to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, integrate sustainability into their curriculum, and yield students who exercise a concern for the environment. This past July, Marymount Manhattan College met and exceeded the American College and University goal of purchasing at least 15 percent of its electricity consumption from renewable sources.

The power purchasing agreement signed by President Shaver commits Marymount Manhattan to begin purchasing 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, as certified by the Green-e Certification Program, an independent organization that oversees and verifies claims of the renewable content of ‘green’ power offerings.

Based on the College’s annual power usage of about 4,000,000 kWh, purchasing 25 percent of its electricity consumption as ‘green’ power reduces its carbon footprint by about 750 tons. At a national average rate of 1.5 pounds CO2 per kWh, this represents approximately four times the total body weight of Marymount Manhattan’s students, full-time and part-time faculty and staff, or the carbon-reducing capacity of about 2,250 trees. President Shaver also pledged to complete an emissions inventory, set objectives for becoming climate neutral, and take action to reduce emissions.

Marymount Manhattan has demonstrated that an institution can protect itself from spot power price increases in a manner that helps protect the environment and serves as a positive example for students, faculty, staff and the community at large. Marymount Manhattan’s involvement with the ACUPPC is expected to engage the College community, and directly impact the surrounding New York City area.

Under the guidance and direction of the Leadership Circle of presidents, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is being supported and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, and ecoAmerica.

For more information on the Presidents Climate Commitment, click here.

Published: August 14, 2007

Math Department Holds The Eleventh Annual Pi-Day Contest

Every year, the Mathematics department holds a College-wide π-Day contest. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to submit an original sentence, paragraph, poem, or short story that uses the digits of π in order (π ≈ 3.1415926..).