our HIstory
The inspiration for SHAB was originally conceived in 2004. Then Barrett students Ari Peterson and Taylor Jackson attended a permaculture event in Phoenix, and both found themselves wishing that their ability to live sustainably and minimize their ecological footprint while living in the dormitories was less limited. Barrett had recently begun the initial planning for a new residential complex, so they took the opportunity to present to the Deans of the Honors College their vision for a sustainable residence hall. The Deans were receptive to the idea, and what was then called the Sustainable Living Community at the Barrett Honors College was formed to continue with planning and advocacy for the future residential hall.
The Sustainable Living Community fell dormant as the timeline for the construction of the new Honors dorms was delayed for several years. While the plan was never forgotten by either the students or the administration, there seemed little to do during the interim period.
SHAB was resurrected as an active club over the course of two influential retreats in the fall and spring of 2007/08, during which the group established a series of short term as well as long term goals. It's worth noting that only one of the founding members of the Sustainable Living Community attended this retreat--over the three years that had passed, many of the original students had graduated. Alumni are seen as an invaluable source of advice and are frequently consulted, but new goals are independently established by current students. Although specifics transition with the student body, the founding principles and spirit of the community remain constant.
Retreat: Fall 07 Prescott
At this retreat SHAB members realized that they could take the first steps to forming a sustainability living community even before the intended building was constructed. An immediate physical building to house present and future SHABers would give members the opportunity to build a strong core community, and having a large presence in a residence hall would also allow low-tech sustainability steps to be taken (e.g., a garden and compost). This eventually culminated in Irish C being converted into an interim residence hall for the sustainability community.
Continued priorities were established: having a diversity of majors, a close connection to the deans of the Honors College, and membership including students from all regions of the country.
Overarching ideals that form the foundation of SHAB were also solidified. Foremost among these were:
* Eliminating (not just minimizing) waste from our lives, ASU, and as a cultural paradigm
* "Loving all children of all species for all time"
Retreat: Spring 08 Payson
During SHAB's second retreat three potential mission statements were developed, which were later fused into one comprehensive mission statement in our constitution. The final mission statement:
Understanding sustainability as a holistic perspective from which to view the world allows us to recognize the interconnectedness of all things. This perspective leads to a critical examination of our role in society and the complex and evolving relationship between environmental, economic, and social issues. We realize that our success and happiness depends not only on our selves, but also on our community and surroundings. As a student-initiated and consensus-based group, the Sustainability House at Barrett seeks to act as a support community for integrating sustainability into the lives of its members. We seek to offer opportunities for meaningful application of these principles and foster a lifelong commitment to sustainability practices.
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