University of Toronto gets sweatered

By Elliot Coombe
Ask any University of Toronto student which building on campus they think is the coolest and you’re likely to hear just one answer- Hart House.  For almost a hundred years the ivy-covered Gothic stone building has been the hub of student life at the centre of a bustling campus.  Now with February 17 approaching, it’s about to become a little bit cooler for WWF’s National Sweater Day.

Hart House (c) Ivan Hernandez
“Hart House, U of T’s main cultural centre, is pleased to take part in National Sweater Day, which keys into our continuing commitment to decreasing the environmental impacts of our operations,” says Chris Lea, Director of Facilities. “Though Hart House is an old building, there are many things we have done, are doing and will do in the future to achieve this goal, including educating our users to the personal impact they can have in this ongoing project.”
Along with several other major buildings on campus like the Earth Sciences Centre and Ramsay Wright Building, Hart House will turn down the thermostat and turn up the awesome, as staff members don funky sweaters to show their commitment to the planet.
Students likewise are gearing up for the big day with many residence buildings participating.  Student organizations like the U of T Greenpeace Student Network and the U of T Biology Environmental Action Team have been mobilizing fellow students and helping to spread the word, and a real buzz is building on campus.
Yamina Sara Chekroun, a  fourth year Political Science student, says “I’m proud that my school and my fellow students are participating with this campaign.  Energy conservation is a key part of creating a sustainable future and it’s important that people get involved and spread the word.  Plus, ugly sweaters are cute and fun!”
“It’s a great campaign and we’re excited that students, faculty and staff are uniting to make this campaign a success on campus,” says Corey Scott, VP Campus Life for the University of Toronto Students’ Union. “As a community with 75,000 students and 11,000 staff, it’s crucial for us to think about and address the impact our school has on the environment.”
U of T has a long history of discovery and innovation.  Lately their researchers have been garnering global attention for cutting edge work on environmental technology like Biochar, using charcoal to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere and a recent major study on declining bee populations.  By taking part in National Sweater Day, the school is continuing its strong tradition of striving towards a great future.
Interested in being part of the fun?  Sign-up for National Sweater Day today – and if you’re a U of T student or faculty member, don’t miss our Hart House event!