The N.C. State Steward program, a new sustainability movement, will come to campus this fall.

The Steward program, unlike other on-campus environmental groups, will attempt to consider the challenges facing the environment more holistically, and integrate economic and social aspects into their advocacy. 

As ambassadors for environmental advocates, the Stewards hope to collaborate with other environmental groups by holding workshops, presentations and campus events.

Although it is supported by the University Sustainability Office, Rebekah Dunstan, the Steward program coordinator, emphasized that it is more than just an environmental group. “We want to make sure it’s more than just environmental and that we include all aspects,” Dunstan said. “They will be educating their peers and the rest of the N.C. State community about socially, economically and environmentally responsible behaviors.”

The social aspect comes from making environmental decisions that will not harm others, and puts understanding of the environment first. “They are also just to serve as role models to inspire other peers who have sustainable behaviors,” Dunstan said.

Brian Iezzi, steward and sophomore in textile engineering, said an example of economically beneficial actions would be purchasing locally grown foods and products.

Carla Davis, the communication coordinator, said with this program will bring many benefits to the already sustainable culture of the University. “At the end of the day, we hope that they will make N.C. a more sustainable place,” Davis said. “It is a way of giving back to the university.”

The idea comes from various universities across the country, but with their own spin on it. “We picked the name ‘State Stewards’ because we tried to move away from Eco-reps at a lot of universities,” Iezzi said. “We didn’t want to just be Eco-reps because we are not only just concerned about the ecosystem or only concerned about the environment. We are concerned about students’ social decisions and economical decisions too.”  

Iezzi was attracted to the Stewards Program because its interdisciplinary approach to environmental affairs, and the recognition that the environment is much more than just a scientific or ecological problem.

“I saw that there was a lot of enthusiasm for environmental and sustainable movements on campus, but there wasn’t a lot of connection between every group and a lot of moving forward in one direction,” Iezzi said. “I think the State Stewards will help bring together a lot of different groups and do as much as possible.”

Dunstan hopes the Steward Program “will help ideas spread and be able to connect groups when someone has a common interest.”

“If we can reach out to all of the student groups and the students that do care then we can have that huge network and get more students behind every movement,” Iezzi said. Iezzi said peer education will be critical in spreading knowledge about sustainable practices.

“It’s going to mean more coming from a person that is your friend or that you respect,” Davis said. “If they care about it, they can show you why you should care about it.”