Background
Bates' history is deeply rooted in a tangible connection to the environment. The Bates Outing Club is the second oldest collegiate outing club in the nation. The College has maintained itself as a green space in the middle of an encompassing city for more than a century. In the last decade, Bates has taken greater measures to insure its place among colleges with progressive environmental policies. The Environmental Program, offering a four-track Environmental Studies major was instituted in 1997-98. The Environmental Coalition, a student group, was created in the mid 1990s. They are very active both in campus stewardship and environmental politics. In last five years Bates' Dining Services operation has become a model of environmental stewardship, redesigning machinery to conserve both water and energy, and diverting the majority of its waste from the solid-waste stream. Additionally, new structures, including the Residential Village and athletic facilities have incorporated energy- and water-saving devices.

The recent emphasis Bates has devoted to environmental awareness is apparent throughout the college community, from the college curriculum to residence halls. Some of these efforts are outlined below.

ACADEMICS:
Several courses foreshadowed the relatively new Environmental Studies major. In 1996, there was a Short Term course that researched and proposed a campus EcoCenter. Also in 1996, a student summer research grant focused on an Environmental Needs Assessment for the Bates community. Prior to that, in the late 1980s, an environmental audit of the campus was conducted by a Short Term class. The first graduating class able to declare the Environmental Studies major (class of 1999) will have approximately 40 students choosing that option. Those numbers are growing with each entering class.

STUDENT LIFE:
Two student organizations, the Environmental Coalition, and the Outing Club, embrace environmental issues as part of their work. The Environmental Coalition is active in local political issues, national environmental issues and campus stewardship issues. The Outing Club, while primarily focused on outdoor recreation, has an environmental interest group as well. In 1997-98, an Environmental theme house was proposed and approved for the fall of 1998. Nash House is an on-campus environmental center - a place to gather, obtain information and demonstrate sustainable living.

ADMINISTRATION:
In the early 1990s, an interested group of faculty, staff and students organized the Environmental Issues Committee to focus increased attention on environmental issues at Bates. In 1997, the college hired a part-time environmental coordinator to work with established groups and organizations to coordinate the "greening" of the Bates campus. At the same time, the College officially sanctioned the Environmental Confederation, a campus group composed of students, faculty, staff and administrators, to shape and direct campus stewardship initiatives. (Many members of the Environmental Issues Committee were absorbed into the Confederation.) This move solidified Bates' firm commitment to transfer its intellectual understanding of environmental issues to practical action in its daily operations. This increased environmental focus will allow the Bates community to move to a new level of environmentally sound practice.

The environmental coordinator has been working with the Environmental Confederation to develop this initial action guide for a more environmentally sustainable campus. The goal for the first year was to begin this report, focusing on four aspects of the campus environment: energy, solid waste, hazardous waste and procurement. Next year, the group will focus on transportation, communications, financial policies, land use and planning, water conservation, landscaping and air pollution.