Athens, GA (May 21, 2007) – It started as a conversation and grew in to a movement. Lynne Sallot, a Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication professor, had recently seen “An Inconvenient Truth” and called Trish Kalivoda, associate vice president for public service and outreach, to see how her public relations campaigns class could get involved in environmental issues on campus. Kalivoda had recently heard Tom Adams, chair of the University’s Energy Conservation Executive Committee, speak at the quarterly Public Service and Outreach luncheon. She connected Sallot and Adams and a partnership formed.

Sallot’s fall semester public relations campaigns class took UGA’s Office of Energy on as a client and “UGA Unplugged” was born. The fall semester class created the theme, key message, logo, a conservation tip card handout and red-and-black wristbands sporting the Office of Energy services web address. The students kicked off the initiative during Homecoming week by attending the Campus Block Party, Dawgs After Dark and the Grady College tailgate. At the campus events, Sallot’s students spread awareness about energy conservation by distributing the free wristbands. They also hosted a light bulb exchange at the Grady College and Oglethorpe residence hall, encouraging faculty, staff and students to exchange their incandescent light bulbs for energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Knowing that there was much more work to be done, Sallot continued her relationship with the office during the spring semester and her public relations campaigns students built on the successful “UGA Unplugged” program set up by their peers. The spring campaigns class continued the successful light bulb exchange programs and added more programs to promote energy awareness and conservation. Residents of Mell and Lipscomb residence halls took part in a month-long energy efficiency campaign, “Don’t Be an Energy Hog, Be an Efficiency Dawg!”

Residents were encouraged to save energy in a variety of ways through several special events including a blackout event where they were encouraged to turn out the lights in their rooms and join fellow residents for a viewing of “An Inconvenient Truth” and a post-film discussion. At a “Hog Hoedown” featuring free barbecue, Mell Hall was named the winner of the competition. Statistics show that this month-long energy conservation competition was a success, particularly in Lipscomb Hall, with an increase in student awareness of the issue and a decrease in energy usage in the two residence halls.

The campaigns class semester culminated with an Earth Day celebration on the Tate Center plaza that drew thousands of UGA faculty, staff, students and community members. Hosted by UGA Unplugged, Physical Plant and UGA’s Energy Conservation Executive Committee, the event showcased bio-diesel fuels and educational exhibits about green chemicals, storm water management, recycling, harvesting rainwater, water conservation, energy-efficient toilets, hybrid vehicles from local car dealers, and a noontime speech by Athens-Clarke Mayor Heidi Davison. The group also signed up 116 students to establish UGA Unplugged as a student organization this fall.

This article was posted on Monday, May 21st, 2007 at 1:08 pm and is filed under News.