SRU ‘greening’ programs get grant

The project extends beyond campus into the
surrounding community.

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University Student Government Association has received a $5,000 grant from Pittsburgh 250 Community Connections to expand two “greening” programs on campus.

Students will plant 100 trees and buy at least 10 new bicycles for a Green Bike Initiative that makes loaner bicycles available to anyone on campus.

The idea is to have riders use the bicycles to reach the town’s business district and off-campus residences, minimizing reliance on emission-producing motor vehicles.

“Everyone is so focused on reducing his or her carbon footprint these days. With one grant, our students will be making a long-lasting impact on our campus community,” said Diana Wolak, the university’s fiscal assistant for cooperative activities. She wrote the grant application, based on a student proposal.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Dan Cannon, a senior from Westlake, Ohio, and co-founder of the Green Bike Initiative. Bicycles in the program are painted green for easy identification.

“I know the Green Bike Initiative has been successful and will now have the money to make an even larger impact in the future,” he said.

The program has 12 bicycles on campus now and continues to solicit donations of more bikes from local bike shops.

The overall goal is to get people to use their cars less, Cannon said.

The Student Government Association launched a tree-planting program last spring by buying 15 trees from a local nursery and 100 saplings from the Arbor Day Foundation.

The grant will pay for 100 more trees to be planted both on and off campus and dedicated on Arbor Day, April 25.

The campus trees will be planted behind N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.