Climate change can be looked at from many perspectives: as a moral call to action, a matter of public policy, or a blip in geologic time.

Students and faculty considered these angles and many others at a panel discussion on Thursday that was part of a national teach-in to draw attention to the International Day of Climate Change, sponsored by 350.org.

Colgate's efforts to turn quick-growing willow into fuel for the university's wood-burning plant were highlighted in yesterday's edition of The Post-Standard (Syracuse).

"This is one of those things that is environmentally and financially beneficial for the university," John Pumilio, sustainability coordinator, told the newspaper.

Colgate's green efforts were the focus of a "spotlight" article by the Environmental News Network website.

The story highlights the university's past efforts to reduce its environmental impact and examines its newest initiatives, spearheaded by the Environmental Council and new sustainability coordinator, John Pumilio.

While the majestic trees on Willow Path have the power to warm people's hearts, a new 7½ -acre willow biomass farm on Hamilton Street will help heat the university.

Depending on the soil, weather, and overall conditions, last week's planting of 60,000 8-inch shrub willow shoots should yield about 900 dry tons of biomass over a 20-year period -- a drop in the proverbial bucket considering that Colgate currently burns about 100 tons of woodchips per day in its environmentally friendly steam-fired boiler.

The signs in Frank Dining Hall began appearing this fall: beans and grains from Cayuga Pure Organics, local fruit from Red Jacket Orchards, hormone-free pork from Certified Natural NY. And with that, Colgate's foray into purchasing, serving, and publicly supporting local foods officially began.

Though the campus is surrounded by acres of fertile farmland, serving local food on campus hasn't been as easy as it might seem.

As the chairperson of Colgate's Environmental Council, associate professor of Russian Ian Helfant tries to practice what he preaches.

Some of the "green" changes Helfant has made to his mid-1970s home include a wood pellet stove, a compost pail in the kitchen, and a water heater that's "so heavily insulated it looks more like a Thermos bottle than an appliance."

The Class of 2008's "green" gift to the university was the subject of an article in The Post-Standard.(Syracuse)

The class has raised about $23,000 to launch a fund that will help the college reduce energy use. About 94 percent of the senior class has made donations.

Parker Commons was transformed with palpable, focused energy for environmental change for Colgate and the surrounding community as nearly 100 participants converged for the sixth annual Green Summit.

The summit is not a recognized group but rather an open gathering of students, faculty, staff, and community members who want to see environmental change enacted by Colgate.

On Friday, informal groups were formed around individual initiatives. Participants generated practical, short-term goals called Green Strides that will be carried out over the next two months.

Internationally recognized artists interacted with students and faculty members at a weekend symposium focused on finding innovative solutions to pressing environmental problems.

"How can we re-imagine our relationship to natural systems?" asked Natalie Jeremijenko, the keynote speaker of the seminar titled Environmental Art and New Media Technologies: Imagining Sustainable Futures.

All of the weekend's panels, presentations, and performances addressed that question.

Desperate times call for creative measures.

To encourage innovative solutions to environmental crises, the arts and activism are teaming up on campus through a series of events titled Environmental Art and New Media Technology: Imagining Sustainable Future.

"It's a time in history when the old models and ways of doing things are not going to sustain us anymore," said Cary Peppermint, assistant professor of art and art history. "It's the perfect time to consider new ways of working."

Colgate Hunger Outreach Program's Local Food Fair drew involved students, interested community members, and the Swinging Gates to The Loj last week for a fresh and delicious feast made entirely of food produced in the Hamilton area.

Liz Whitehurst '08, community coordinator at The Loj, a college theme house dedicated to the environment, said students went shopping at the farmers market in Hamilton the weekend before and then worked together to prepare the food.