HKSYU - Shue Yan Newsletter

“Green Shue Yan” was started recently. It is the biggest such campaign throughout the 37 year history of Shue Yan. By promoting recycling, saving resources and cherishing mother nature, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) hopes to build up environmental awareness in the university. By practicing a simple life style, a real “green campus” may be developed.

“Green Shue Yan” has four stages, the first of which is to last two years, until the end of June 2009.

In order to have a really good beginning to the campaign, the OSA named the theme of this year’s Campus Festival, “Environmental Protection”. The opening ceremony of “Green Shue Yan” and “Campus Festival 2008” were held on the same day - the 12th March. The slogan created by students in the English Department was used: Green Your Mind, Future Shines. The activity was sponsored by Hang Seng Bank.

Our president, Dr. Henry H.L. Hu, Principal, Dr Chung Chi Yung, Vice President (Academic), Professor Yao-su Hu , Vice President (Administration), Dr Fai-chung Hu and many teaching staff attended the opening ceremony. In president’s speech, he praised those students who have awareness respect to the use of water and electricity. He is looking forward to great improvements in usage practice.

In her speech, Miss Yip Sau Yin, Dean of Student Affairs of OSA, mentioned that Hong Kong people throw away 23 millions plastic bags every day. This translates into three plastic bags per person per day. This huge amount is doing great harm to our limited resources and the environment. She called on students to reduce the use of plastic bags and to lead a simpler lifestyle. She reminded us to separate waste paper, metals and plastics from our daily waste for recycling. That matches with our concept of making good use of our resources.

The Green Shue Yan Ambassador Programme

The “Green Shue Yan” began a core activity - the Green Shue Yan Ambassador Programme. This is to help students and teaching staff learn more and correct environmental knowledge by putting words into actions. Sixty students were recruited to be Green Ambassadors. Those students are going to take part in a training camp from 12th June to 14th June. They will then carry out their duties in the coming semester. The duties include the promotion of environmental protection, to organize and hold activities. They will promote the importance of environmental protection both on and off campus.

From January to May 2009, the OSA will have held three environmental protection workshops and photography contests. More are coming! They include inviting representatives of environmental protection organizations to deliver talks and the provision of study tours. The last activity of the first stage of the “Green Shue Yan” - the approval ceremony, will be held in June 2009 to sum up the whole campaign.

Various Activities in Campus Festival

Held every year, the Campus Festival has made “Environmental Protection” the theme for this year. Through 24 environmentally friendly activities held by different societies and clubs, all students and teachers were presented with messages about environmental friendship and sustainable development.

The Chinese Society held the “Stair-Running Competition and Exhibition”. Students are expected to know more about “Going Downhill on Foot”. Students can not only save traveling costs and do exercises, but also contribute to the reduction of pollutants from motor vehicles. The number of participants was not as many as expected. The chairperson of the Society thought that it was because of lack of interest and promotion. Some participants claimed that going downhill on foot has become a preferred mode of traveling locally.

The Economics Society held “Environmentally Friendly Trading”. The chairperson pointed out that throwing some material which was no longer being used is wasteful. By means of trading things, students can get what they really need, and resources could be reused effectively. This movement received great feedback and the materials traded were mainly stationery, clothes and books.

By coincidence, the Commercial Investment Society and the Sociology Society also focused on improving students’ knowledge about organic food. “Cooking Great Organic Food”, held by Sociology Society, sought to enhance students’ knowledge about organic food and food preservation through its exhibition and workshop. Through joining “Farming Experience Camp” run by the Commercial Investment Society, students went to the farms in “Green Garden”. They enjoyed the process of organic farming, such as fertilizing and the use of earthworms. Participants were given eggplants as memory.

President Hu's love for the “Taiwan Acacia”

On the way to the campus, it is hoped that people notice the Taiwan Acacias on the mountain slopes and near the residential and amenities building. These were planted on the orders of President Hu and Principal Chung, 1982, when the campus was being built.

During the opening ceremony of “Green Shue Yan” and the “Campus Festival 2008”, President Hu spoke about planting those trees that year. He said that many trees were cut down when the campus was being built, so he and the Principal thought they should plant the new trees and more should be planted. Even though the moutain slopes beside the residential and amenities building are very steep, they are full of Taiwan Acacias.

Today, the greenery of the Taiwan Acacias is a great protection for students in the summer heat.