Transitions Magazine Fall 2011 - Prescott College

College NewsPrescott College Commits to Fossil Fuel DivestmentThe Prescott College Board of Trustees has approved a landmark Fossil Fuel DivestmentResolution, making a commitment to shift endowment investments from the 200 largestfossil fuel corporations to clean, green energy companies and other socially responsibleinvestments aligned with institutional values. The divestment initiative at Prescott Collegewas first developed by recent graduate Kara Kukovich ’13, who prepared a report on theethical, financial, and environmental reasons for fossil fuel divestment. The proposed actiongained widespread support from students, faculty, staff, and executives at the College, and was approved by all major internal governancecommittees within a few short months. “We are excited about the Divestment Resolution—it reaffirms our commitment toenvironmental responsibility and social justice,” said President John Van Domelen. “These have been our core values from inceptionnearly a half century ago, long before the emergence of the sustainability movement.”Arizona Gives DayPrescott College participated in the second-annual Arizona Gives Day—a statewide, 24-hour,online giving campaign—with our very own Cowboy Dollar Drive on April 9. Drawing onthe history of the College and with a generous $5,000 matching gift from President John VanDomelen, the Prescott College community raised $13,750 in 24 hours! Big thanks to everyonewho participated in one form or another.Raven Review TransformedUnder the auspices of Social Justice and Human Rights faculty member Todd Mireles, the student staff of Prescott College’sstudent run newspaper, The Raven Review, launched an online-only version of the publication with a dynamic new photo-heavydesign and user interface (www.ravenreviewnewspaper.com). According to Mireles, who earned his undergrad degree in journalism,it’s not just the look and format that are different. He sees the new Raven Review as a year-round publication accepting articleideas, photos, and complete story submissions from the entire Prescott College community. Got an idea? Submit directly online atwww.ravenreviewnewspaper.com/submissions. (See story on page 29.)River Studies Leadership CertificateThe River Management Society has partnered with five colleges and universities, includingPrescott College, to offer the River Studies Leadership Certificate. The certificate is designed forundergraduate students and requires completion of approved river-focused coursework and ariver-related professional project. Faculty will collaborate with each student to design andcomplete a personalized academic program that should address real world challengesfacing rivers in the U.S. Each student will receive a one-year membership in the RiverManagement Society that includes a subscription to the RMS Journal and the opportunityto attend national and regional chapter events, including the national symposium or workshop(held in alternating years). In addition to coursework and professionalexperience, students must present about an aspect of their studies at a professional conferenceor contribute an article to the RMS Journal to complete the program. PrescottCollege faculty member Joel Barnes and Faculty Director of the Water Center atColorado Mesa University Gigi Richard were instrumental in developing this certificate.Earth Day Turned Earth MonthPrescott College turned this year’s Earth Day into an Earth Month with collaboration among groups andindividuals on and off campus. Events included: Earth Day at the Courthouse Plaza, a Rachel CarsonChautauqua, a presentation on climate change by Rev. Michael Dowd, a movie screening of More than Honey,a campus conversation on Spiritualism and Nature, a presentation called “The Path of Natural History” byTom Fleischner, and the One Man’s Treasure Up-cycled Art Auction. As part of One Man’s Treasure, theCollege participated in a month-long display at the downtown Prescott Public Library during the monthof February. The largest event each year by far is always Earth Day at the Courthouse Plaza, which PrescottCollege co-sponsors along with the Prescott Open Space Alliance. Our five booths on the Courthouse Plazarepresented several groups on campus including: Admissions, Advancement, Natural History Institute,Sustainability Council, Butte Creek Restoration, and ECOSA Institute.4Transitions Fall 2014