Reading Comprehension
Students’ Projects Promote a Sustainable
Campus
Students in the University of Arizona Honors College presented dozens of
ideas on ways to boost campus sustainability the same day the
University's Green Fund opened a campus-wide call for funding requests
regarding sustainability-related efforts.
Envisioning a more sustainable campus, a group of students have posed
ideas for renovating and retrofitting buildings, installing shower timers,
promoting educational smartphone applications and incorporating gym
equipment that converts movement into energy while users burn calories.
More than 130 University of Arizona students in the Honors College
presented these ideas and others during Thursday's MIS 111 Honors
Project Showcase, held at the UA's Eller College of Management.
The judged showcase coincided with the UA Green Fund opening its
campus-wide call for funding requests for projects centered on
sustainability and strong student involvement.
"This is a testament to the creativity embodied in the students and great
ideas to improve campus sustainability," said Lon Huber, the Green Fund
chair, said about the forum.
All told, nearly three dozen projects were presented during the
symposium. This year's winning teams are:
"Big Belly Trashcans," which would use solar energy to compact
stored trash, enabling more storage and less need for frequent
emptying while keeping pests out of the bins.
"EcoCat Boxes" would serve to incorporate the use of reusable to-go
containers at campus dining areas. The boxes could then be
returned to Dining Services to be cleaned and sanitized for further
use.
"I Heart Tap Water" would involve testing tap water against bottled
water while encouraging people to refill rather than replace water
bottles.
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Huber, who attended the forum along with other Green Fund committee
members, said the Green Fund committee would be providing seed
funding to the "best ideas" from across campus.
Students who participated in Thursday's symposium are welcome to apply
for funding, along with other members of the campus community – so long
as students are involved in a "meaningful" way, he said.
"Some of the ideas are outside the box and really interesting," Huber, also
a UA graduate student in business administration, said about the
symposium projects.
The symposium was the culmination of a semester-long course for pre-
business students, the majority of them freshmen. Students who
participated in Thursday's symposium are welcome to apply for funding,
along with other members of the campus community – so long as students
are involved in a "meaningful" way, he said.
William T. Neumann has been teaching the management and information
systems course for Honors College students for the last five years.
But, in the last three years, he has restructured the course, wanting to
create a stronger connection between the students' instruction and
practical, business-oriented applications.
"There is a lot of team work and a lot of thinking and innovation involved,"
said Neumann, one of Eller's senior lecturers and also the director of
projects and undergraduate and master's programs.
That includes working effectively with colleagues, learning how to create
and defend a business proposal, speaking publically and formally while
also developing that all-important elevator pitch.
During the semester, students worked in rotating groups on different
projects before spending the last month in teams to develop ideas for
sustainability projects and initiatives on campus.
Other student project proposals included:
"ConserveCat," which would allow members of the campus
community to track their energy usage.
"Eco-Tinting" would involve placing a film on the windows of UA
buildings that would enable visible light to shine though while
deflecting the majority of infrared and ultraviolet rays.
Students also promoted the "Naturally Recycling Food Through
Vermicomposting" project to be utilized throughout campus.
Vermicomposting is a process by which food waste breaks down into
fertilizer without much management required.
"Energize your Exercise" suggests incorporating ReRev, exercise
equipment on campus. The equipment generates renewable energy
through kinetic motion.
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"Sustainability is such an important focus on campus," Neumann added,
noting that he opted to partner with Joseph Abraham, who directs the
UA's Office of Sustainability.
Comprehension
I-Are these sentences true or false? Justify.
1. Stored trash of “the Big Belly Trashcans” will attract more and more
pests.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
2. “EcoCat Boxes” don’t have to be sanitized for further uses.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
3. “I Heart Tap Water” encourages students to replace water bottles.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
4. Students’ ideas are original.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
5. Students sensitize the campus community over the importance of
energy usage.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
6. “Eco –Tinting” project won’t allow the penetration of light as well
infrared and ultraviolet rays into the buildings.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
II- Answer the questions below.
1. Do students work on the same projects during the whole semester?
Explain.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
2. How does the gym project promote campus sustainability?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
3. How do students defend their proposals of projects?
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
4. How are Students’ ideas on campus sustainability encouraged by the
University’s green Fund?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
III- Find words or phrases in the text which mean the
same as:
1. Persuasive speech: …………………………………………………
2. Keeping away: ……………………………………………………….
3. Active: …………………………………………………………………...
