James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2009 - Index

GREEN
TO THE MAX
Senior’s environmental efforts permeate JMU BY KATIE HUDSON (’10)
E
Emily Thomas (’09) is taking “going green” to a whole new
level. As the student representative to the new Institute for
Stewardship of the Natural World, Thomas serves the ISNW
Campus Accessibility Committee. She is an integrated science
and technology major with an environment concentration. She
also founded JMU’s No Drive Day as a freshman and is cofounder
of the Clean Energy Coalition.
The coalition, which is a grouping of many of JMU’s Earthfriendly
clubs, helped sponsor the Village Green Wars, where
students competed to conserve the most energy in nine Village
residence halls.
Thomas’ enthusiasm for the environment started at an early
age. “I’ve recycled since I can remember,” she
‘There are too
many conflicting
ideas out there,
and the only way
to really find
the right one is
through education
and knowledge.’
EMILY THOMAS (’09)
Inset: Emily Thomas
(‘09), helped organize
JMU’s first No Drive
Day while she was a
freshman. The event
raises awareness
about excessive
automobile use.
says. But it was not until her freshman year
at JMU that she decided to really become
involved with environmentalism.
After a professor recommended she attend
a climate conference at Yale University,
Thomas quickly became enthralled with
green efforts. “I was so inspired after the conference;
I knew I wanted to be a part of something
big,” she explains.
Soon after, she met now-ISNW director,
C.J. Brodrick Hartman. “Emily has really
furthered the campus environmental efforts
at JMU. She uses scientific evidence and critical
thinking rather than just advocating
‘green trends,’” Hartman explains.
Those qualities helped Thomas organize
No Drive Day. The program —
which proved to be a major success
— worked with the Harrisonburg
Department of Public Transportation
to raise awareness about excessive automobile
use. JMU has since sponsored several No Drive Days.
Thomas sees scientific evidence as a way “to debunk green
myths. There are too many conflicting ideas out there, and the
only way to really find the right one is through education and
knowledge.” Thomas has analyzed the cradleto-cradle
costs and benefits of a hybrid car
purchase versus a highly efficient and lowemissions
conventional vehicle.
Surprisingly, the best part of Thomas’ current
work with ISNW doesn’t involve scientific
evidence. “The greatest thing is seeing
other people get excited and informed when
it comes to helping the environment,” she
says. Thomas hopes to continue that feeling
after graduation. “My dream is to research
renewable resources and implement tangible
ideas that can really change the environment
for the better.”
M
30 MADISON MAGAZINE
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DIANE ELLIOTT (’00)