The Green Building Project: Promoting Political Science Learning through a Collaborative Research Approach
Angela C. Halfacre, Katharine A. Owens, Katherine S. Zimmerman and Zachary H. Hart
PS: Political Science and Politics , Vol. 37, No. 2 (Apr., 2004), pp. 297-302
Published by: American Political Science Association
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4488822
The article was written by four faculty members of the College of Charleston in 2004 and describes their efforts to renovate their campus and city in a sustainable manner. This is many way similar to what Brooklyn College is about to attempt to do. The article is written by professors from the college for an audience of their academic peers, and is obviously a little biased towards embellishing the success of the renovation process. The discussion of problems that arose during the campaign is superficial in dealing with community and interdisciplinary disputes. However, their very mention should serve as caution for Brooklyn College, because they are going to happen.
Charleston College renovated the buildings on campus and in their city. The main technological issue was the age of the buildings, which were protected by law for historical and aesthetic reasons. Nevertheless, the team was able to overcome these difficulties without spending too much money and built up a hands on experience for their students. The article repeatedly stresses the need to incorporate political science majors into the team because this is a community effort and the financial cheapness of many of their doings. It would serve well to view Brooklyn College initiatives with these two concerns in mind.
Use proper citation format. Does the BC sustainability plan have any of the features of their plan? How might we revise our plan based on their cautions?