Name: Sarah Sanchez
Hometown: Newton, MA
Major: Civil Engineering & Environmental Science
What made you join HEAT?
I joined HEAT because I was interested in sustainability: learning more about it, how to live more sustainably myself, how to bring those ideals to my campus, how to get involved with the things that I was really passionate about, and to meet others who had similar interests! I was inspired by the way the students in HEAT were so committed to sustainability in their own lives and how they are making real changes for the better on our campus.
I’ve been hearing a lot about sustainability on campus now. Can you tell me a little about it?
Some of our on-going and annual HEAT sustainability programs include Trash2Treasure, Do It In the Dark (an energy saving competition between the freshman residence halls), and the garden plot in the Fenway Victory Gardens. Other current sustainability initiatives on campus include attaining a 1:1 ratio with recycling bins and trash receptacles and educating NU students, faculty, and staff on proper recycling and composting practices. Last month, we held a Sustainability Symposium- a collaborative effort by Facilities, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Dining Services, SGA and HEAT. All of these groups were given the opportunity to talk about their sustainability initiatives and progress in a forum where anyone from the Northeastern community could come and learn about what’s going on at our school.
How would one get involved with the sustainability movement on campus?
There are a lot of options for getting involved with the sustainability movement on campus. HEAT aims to connect interested students with the university’s sustainability efforts as well as to help students start any other projects they want to work on here on campus. Additionally, there are resources such as the sustainability @ Northeastern website, as well as many other student groups that work on different environmental and sustainability issues. Students interested in HEAT or sustainability on campus can visit HEAT’s website to find out more information about our current projects, initiatives, and committees. They can also email nuheat@gmail.com with any questions.
Can you tell us a little bit about Trash to Treasure?
Trash2Treasure is a waste reduction program at Northeastern University that collects unwanted (but still usable!) items from students during Spring move-out. T2T sells these items back to the Northeastern community for next to nothing prices during a Welcome Week Sale. The profits are split up between student groups that volunteer during the collection and Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE), a Roxbury-based environmental justice organization. Any leftover items are donated locally or recycled. Anyone who is interested or looking for more information can find it on our website or on our Facebook page. This will be our 5th year running Trash2Treasure! Some of the awesome items collected last year included a full size disco ball, four identical Aaron Carter metal lunch boxes, barely worn Hunter rain boots, and 2 bright green saucer sleds!
What are you most excited for this semester?
I am most excited to continue building stronger relationships with other student organizations and the NU administration, as well as working on and starting new sustainability-based projects on campus. I’m also eager to get students engaged based on their own interests and skills and help them become empowered to make the changes specifically related to the environment and sustainability that they want to see at Northeastern, in the Boston community, and in the world.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy yoga, singing while dancing around my room, making weird faces at my computer when I’m trying to do work, walking around Boston, and learning more about the environment, climate change, and sustainability.
What are your favorite things about Boston?
I love that I can get pretty much everywhere by walking or taking the T, the loyal sports fans, the way everything comes to life in the spring, and the way that the Prudential is always there- like a North star to guide me home!
Any other info you would like our readers to know?
Everyone can get involved in sustainability initiatives here on campus or as part of the larger movement against climate change. Sustainability affects anything and everything you can be interested in, from fashion to sports to travel.