Green College, University of British Columbia

Infobox University
name = Green College, University of British Columbia


image_size = 120px
motto = "Ideas and Friendship".
established = 1993
type = centre for advanced interdisciplinary scholarship at the University of British Columbia
endowment =
chancellor =
president = Dr. Steven Taubeneck
provost =
undergrad =
postgrad = 84 graduate students, 16 postdoctoral scholars
city = flagicon|Canada Vancouver
state = British Columbia
country = Canada
campus = urban overlooking the ocean and mountains
affiliations = Green College at the Radcliffe Observatory of Oxford University, AUCC
IAU, CIS, CWUAA
mascot =
free_label = Sport Teams
free =
colours = Gold and Green color box|#EEC900 color box|#008000
website = [http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca www.greencollege.ubc.ca]

Green College is a centre for interdisciplinary scholarship and a community of scholars at the University of British Columbia founded by Cecil Howard Green and Ida Green.

The college consists of a residential community of 92 graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, visiting scholars and professors, and non-resident affiliated faculty and academic programming. Green College is one of only three graduate residential colleges in Canada, the other two being St. John's College, University of British Columbia and Massey College at the University of Toronto. Green College has formal ties with both institutions as well as with Green College, Oxford, which similarly owes its inception to the generosity of Cecil H. Green.

The College is located at the North end of the UBC campus, near the Faculty of Law, Museum of Anthropology, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Buchanan complex. Cecil Green Park House is an oceanfront mansion adjoining the College property. Dining together is an integral part of the Green College experience. The college is home to the Green College Dining Society which provides ten meals a week to residents and guests in Graham House's Great Hall.

Mandate and Motto

The College's coat of arms features two cougars grasping a flagpole above a shield, and includes the college's motto "Ideas and Friendship". It was registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on January 15, 1996.Citation
author = Canadian Heraldic Authority
author-link =Canadian Heraldic Authority
title =Green College of the University of British Columbia
journal =Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada
volume =III
pages =p. 63
date =1996-01-15
url =http://www.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=580
accessdate =2007-04-04] Building on the motto of 'Ideas and Friendship,' the college "strives to blend quality and prestige on the one hand, and enrichment of the campus on the other, while avoiding elitism or imitation. It is organized to reflect the vision of Dr. Green that it be an intellectual community for the generation of new ideas. It is committed to the belief that new ideas are best fostered by interdisciplinary activities involving graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty. " http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/About/p-about.htm]

Members of the college are selected through a membership committee and are chosen on the basis of academic excellence, interest and commitment to interdisciplinarity, commitment to community involvement and "the need to achieve a diverse community." The college has a reputation for academic excellence and hosts SSHRC Scholars, NSERC Scholars, Rhodes Scholars, Trudeau Foundation Scholars, Fulbright Scholars and Commonwealth Scholars.

Activities

Cecil H. Ida Green Visiting Professorships

Since the first Cecil H. and Ida Green Visiting Professor, Nobel Laureate Gerhard Herzberg, arrived in 1972 more than 175 distinguished scholars have participated in the programme. Visiting professors are selected by the committee on the basis of academic excellence and appeal to a broad audience. Past visiting profesors have included: Richard Rorty, Noam Chomsky, Stanley Falkow, Charles Taylor (philosopher), Sir John Eccles, Ursula Franklin, and Rodolfo Stavenhagen. [http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/Academic/l-cecil.htm]

Academic Lectures and Interdisciplinary Groups

Further lecture series and academic events highlighting interdisciplinary research are coordinated through the academic committee while the Members' Speaker Series features speakers from the residential community. Additionally, the college is home to a number of interdisciplinary groups. These include: Autobiography and Film, Changes in the Relationship between Post-Secondary Education, the State, and Society, Contemporary Immunology: How the Physical Sciences and Mathematics are Shaping Immunology, Culture in Evolutionary Perspective, Nature/History/Society, Pragmatic perspectives on environmental sustainability, and Solitudes and Globalization: Art and Culture Across the Americas from Post-World War II to the Present. [http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/Academic/l-inter.htm]

Writers in Residence

Since 2000 this programme has welcomed Canadian writers of all genres. Writer Gary Geddes reflected on his time at Green College as a “highlight of [his] literary career” http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/Academic/l-wir.htm] . Past writers in residence have included: Merilyn Simonds, Lynn Coady, Roo Borson, Wade Compton, Karen Connelly, Nalo Hopkinson, Kevin Kerr and Andrea Spalding..

Justices in Residence

Initated in 2001, the Justice in Residence brings Justices to the college where they participate in college life and make formal and informal presentations. Past Justices in Residence:The Honourable Mr. Justice Charles Gonthier (2001),The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin (Chief Justice of Canada) (2002),The Honourable Mr. Justice Frank Iacobucci (2003),The Honourable Mr. Justice W. Ian Binnie (2004),The Honourable Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella (2006),The Honourable Mr. Justice Marshall Rothstein (2007). [http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/Academic/l-jir.htm]

ocial and Community Activities

In addition to formal academic programming a diverse array of groups, associations and activities take place at the college. Associations include: Arts Committee, Environment Committee, Garden Committee, Green College Choir, Outreach Committee, Social Committee, Sports Committee, GreenNoir Cinematheque, FORAGE Community Dining, the Knitting Circle, and French, Spanish and German conversation groups. The community produces one publication, the tri-annual Reading Room Magazine, which was founded in 2006. [http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/Community/p-community.htm]

Adjudication

In 1997, Green College was evaluated as " [surpassing] goals" by an independent review committee. Then-Principal Richard Ericson singled out "the creativity and enthusiasm of the Dining Society", a resident-led non-profit society which runs the meal program, for praise. Over eight months of that year, the college served up almost 200 separate events -- two or three a day -- including seminar hosted by the college, nine interdisciplinary study groups, lectures by a distinguished visiting professors, artistic performances, or receptions.cite news
first=Sean | last=Kelly
url=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/1997/97sep04/green.html
title= Graduate college not only meets, but surpasses goals, review finds
work=UBC Reports
publisher=University of British Columbia Public Affairs Office
pages=9
date=September 4, 1997
accessdate=2006-12-22 [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubcreports/UBC_Reports_1997_09_04.pdf This issue of UBC Reports] is also online in PDF form.] The College's "stimulating program" earned a Peter Larkin Graduate Program Award from UBC in 1998.cite news
url=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/1998/98oct29/award4.html
title=Award winners improve students' lives
work=UBC Reports
publisher=University of British Columbia Public Affairs Office
pages=1-2
date=October 29, 1998
accessdate=2006-12-23 [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubcreports/UBC_Reports_1998_10_29.pdf This issue of UBC Reports] is also online in PDF form.]

Location and facilities

Green College is located on the University of British Columbia's main campus on the northern side of the peninsula above Tower Beach and Wreck Beach. Situated on Cecil Green Park Road, just off of North West Marine Drive, the college is adjacent to the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology, the Chan Shun Concert Hall and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Green College is located at coord|49|16|15.53|N|123|15|21.77|W|type:edu and is situated in the University Endowment Lands which are slightly west of the city of Vancouver.

Green college consists of two heritage buildings: the Coach House and Graham House, both dating to 1935 [http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/Facility%20Bookings/l-eventfacilities.htm] , a series of residential blocks, a guest house, Green Commons, a shared kitchen complex, squash court and outdoor yards, gardens and a patio. The architectural style reflects the college's west coast location and is integrated with the forested oceanside landscape.

The Coach House and is home to a number of lecture series and conferences, while Graham House is the site of resident meals, galas and special events. Both buildings are also available for rental with catering providing by the Green College Dining Society. As of August 2007, Green Commons is home to the university's Individual Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme.

Organization

The college is a unit of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The head of the college is the College Principal who is responsible to the Dean of Graduate Studies. Management of the college is guided through an Advisory Board consisting of faculty, community leaders, college residents, and representatives from parallel institutions. Academic components of the college are managed through a variety of joint faculty – resident committees.

History

Green College was established in 1993 thanks to a $7 million gift by Cecil H. Green and Ida Green, which was matched by the Province of British Columbia. This gift provided a home to the Cecil and Ida Green Visiting Professorship program, launched by the Greens in 1972.

History Prior to 1993

The facilities of the college campus existed prior to the founding of the college.

In 1935, the Grand Campus Washout eroded a deep ravine across the east end of the grounds. After several days of erosion, the Gardener's shed collapsed into the ravine. Afterwards, the gully was filled with debris from a nearby landslide.cite journal
first = M. Y. |last=Williams
year = 1966
month = Winter
title = The Grand Campus Washout
journal = UBC Alumni Chronicle
volume = 20
issue = 4
pages = 9–11
url = http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/chronicle/AL_CHRON_1966_4.pdf
format = PDF Includes several contemporary photos of the Washout.] The shed was not rebuilt. The landslide area can be identified today by the younger trees on the fill area and a sudden decrease in elevation where the fill has compacted.

The following year the campus drainage system was constructed, terminating in a spiral drain at the southwest end of the Cecil Green Park Road parking lot associated with the college. Two more minor erosion events occurred in the summer of 1995 and 1997 when the drainage system overloaded and flooded the parking lot. A berm was constructed to prevent a reoccurance of these events. cite journal
first = David |last=Grigg
year = 2004
month = July
day = 30
title = Comprehensive Hydrogeological and Cliff Erosion Assessment of Point Grey
url = http://www.planning.ubc.ca/corebus/pdfs/pdf-infrastructure/ComprehensiveSummaryReport07-30-04.pdf
format = PDF ] Slope stability and controlling further erosion continues to be a significant issue for all of the north end of campus including the college grounds. [ [http://www.planning.ubc.ca/corebus/cliffero.html Cliff Erosion ] ]

Green College role in APEC meeting, 1997

In November, 1997, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting was held in Vancouver, with the final gathering at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Great controversy arose when politicians instructed RCMP officers to use force and pepper spray against non-violent protesters. Green College was located near the Museum of Anthropology, directly adjacent to the official motorcade route to the APEC venue there. Green College resident and Law student Craig Jonescite press release
title = Student member of BCCLA executive arrested!
publisher = British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)
date = November 25, 1997
url = http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/97jonesarrested.html
accessdate = 2006-09-06 ] was arrested and held for 14 hours when he displayed signs reading simply "Free Speech", "Democracy", and "Human Rights" on College property. Green College residents displayed protest banners from the windows and walls of the College. Green College residents were among those doused by pepper spray by the RCMP. Also, starting six months before the APEC summit, Green College provided event space and logistical support for an "APEC-University Forum", to discuss both sides of issues raisedcite book |first=W. Wesley |last=Pue |title=Pepper in our Eyes: the APEC Affair |year=2000 |publisher=UBC Press |location=Vancouver, Canada |id=ISBN 0-7748-0779-2 Map of Green College on motorcade route, p xii. Green resident and Law student Karen Pearlston told "no signs and no people" on Green side of route, p. xiii, 145. RCMP arrests Law student Craig Jones and hold him for 14 hours for displaying signs reading simply "Free Speech", "Democracy", and "Human Rights" on College property, p. xv, 8, 145, 210, plate 12. Green College resident and PhD student in Pharmacology reports RCMP assault a person telling of alleged RCMP misconduct, and pepper-spraying Green College residents and others listening to the speaker, p. 7. Green College residents Jenn Baggs and Todd Tubutis, with PhD student Mike Thoms, display protest banner in front of Green College buildings, plate 5. Green College provides "major logistical support" and hosts events for APEC-University forum starting May 1997, per Arnab Guha, pp. 201-203.] .

Housing Contract controversy, 2006

In order to pay for mounting maintenance costs, the college entered into an agreement with UBC Housing and Conferences during the 2005-2006 term for Housing to take over some of the administration of Green College. On 28 July 2006, residents received a [http://www.housing.ubc.ca/pdf/contracts/gc_contract.pdf new contract] with terms that many residents found objectionable, with the order to sign the contract by 1 August 2006. Many residents did not sign the new contract. The deadline was pushed back several times, but eviction notices were given on 28 August to at least twenty-three of the residents.

Dining Society replacement controversy, 2006

Traditionally, meals have been provided by the non-profit Green College Dining Society, run by students. The new contract provides for the possibility of dissolving the Dining Society and replacing it with University Food Services. The proposed residential contract stipulates that if the meal plan is changed, the residents must subscribe to the new meal plan (regardless of the expense or quality of the food served).

References

* cite book
title = Residents' Guide
author = Green College
year = 2005
month = September
publisher = Green College, University of British Columbia
location = Vancouver, Canada
* cite book
title = Green College: Handbook and Annual Report, 2003-2004
author = Green College
others = Production by Carolyn Andersson
year = 2004
publisher = Green College, University of British Columbia
location = Vancouver, Canada
*cite book
last = Ericson
first = Diana
year = 1998
month = June
title = Green College, UBC: Its Architecture and Historical Background
publisher = Green College, University of British Columbia
location = Vancouver, Canada
* cite book
last = Ericson
first = Richard
coauthors = et al.
year = 2004
volume = Four
title = Conversations
publisher = Green College Society
location = Vancouver, Canada
* cite journal
last = Ericson
first = Richard
year = 2004
month = Fall
title = Past Principal's Corner
journal = Conversations
volume = Four
issue = Fall
pages = 4–5
* cite news
first=William |last=Boei
title=Graduate students fight eviction at UBC
date=August 30, 2006 |pages=pp A1-A2
url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=20e1cf6f-cb1f-448c-9738-5e902c7be4f8&k=23792
work=The Vancouver Sun |publisher=CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.
accessdate=2006-12-22
* cite news
first=William |last=Boei
title=Some progress made in UBC college dispute
date=September 2, 2006 |pages=p B10
url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=d320bfd7-7b09-4bea-a620-cba74fe4dabf
work=The Vancouver Sun |publisher=CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.
accessdate=2006-12-22 (Subscription required.)
* cite news
first=Shannon |last=Rupp
title=Ontario author files suit against UBC over harassment policy
date=October 13, 2006 |pages=S3
url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061013.BCUBC12/TPStory/?query=green+college
work=The Globe and Mail |publisher=Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc.
accessdate=2006-12-22 (Subscription required.)
* cite news
first=Carolynne |last=Burkholder
title=Green College principal tenders resignation
date=October 24, 2006 |pages=pp 1-2
url=http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/2006/10/24/green-college-principal-tenders-resignation/
work=The Ubyssey |publisher=The Ubyssey Publications Society
accessdate=2006-12-22 [http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/pdf/20061024%20-%20PDFs/page%201.pdf PDF version of article] also available online.
* cite news
first=Jonathan |last=Fowlie
title=Principal of UBC residence to resign post
date=October 26, 2006
url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=6128f740-0c72-4932-90f8-141df006ccd1
work=The Vancouver Sun |publisher=CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.
accessdate=2006-12-22
* cite press release
title =UBC Evicts Leading Graduate Students from Green College
publisher =Green College Resident Association
date =August 29, 2006
url =http://www.gcra-ubc.com/press/2006/UBC_evicts_20060829.html
accessdate =2006-12-22
* cite press release
title =Green College residents make headway on contract issue, focus shifts to governance
publisher =Green College Resident Association
date =September 5, 2006
url =http://www.gcra-ubc.com/press/2006/Green_contract_governance_20060905.html
accessdate =2006-12-22
* cite web
url=http://www.gcra-ubc.com/crisis/crisis_2006Aug29.html
title=August 2006 Contract Crisis
accessdate=2006-12-22
author=Green College Resident Association
year=2006 |month=September
work=Green College Resident Association website Lists objections to the process and content of the August 2006 proposed contract.
* cite web
url=http://www.gcra-ubc.com/crisis/
title=July-September 2006 Contract Dispute
accessdate=2006-12-22
author=Green College Resident Association
year=2006 |month=September
work=Green College Resident Association website This web page summarise the GCRA's view of the 2006 contract dispute, and points to related documents.
* cite web
url=http://www.gcra-ubc.com/
title=Green College Residents Association (GCRA)
accessdate=2006-12-22
author=Green College Resident Association
year=2006
work=Green College Resident Association website This is the top page of the GCRA's web site.
* cite web
url=http://www.gcra-ubc.com/about.html
title=About the Green College Residents Association (GCRA)
accessdate=2006-12-22
author=Green College Resident Association
year=2006 |month=May
work=Green College Resident Association website This web page describes the history and leadership of the GCRA.
* cite web
url=http://www.gcra-ubc.com/reading_room/
title=The Reading Room magazine
accessdate=2006-12-22
author=Green College Resident Association
year=2006 |month=December
work=Green College Resident Association website This is the top page of "The Reading Room" magazine, written by Green College residents and alumni.
* Blog postings by Kaitlin Duck Sherwood about Green College
** cite web
last =Sherwood | first =Kaitlin Duck
title =UBC Green College eviction notice
work =Best Webfoot Forward
date =August 28, 2006
url =http://www.webfoot.com/blog/2006/08/28/green-college-eviction-notice/
accessdate =2006-12-22 This is a blog posting by a Green College resident about her eviction notice and her view of the 2006 contract dispute.
** cite web
last =Sherwood | first =Kaitlin Duck
title =contract status
work =Best Webfoot Forward
date =September 21, 2006
url =http://www.webfoot.com/blog/2006/09/21/contract-status/
accessdate =2006-12-22 This is a blog posting by a Green College resident about her view of UBC's contract changes in the 2006 contract dispute.
** cite web
last =Sherwood | first =Kaitlin Duck
title =Green College press coverage
work =Best Webfoot Forward
date =October 13, 2006
url =http://www.webfoot.com/blog/2006/10/13/green-college-press-coverage/
accessdate =2006-12-22 This is a blog posting by a Green College resident about her reaction to the (Rupp 2006) newspaper article, specifically disupting many claims by the Principal from that article.
** cite web
last =Sherwood | first =Kaitlin Duck
title =Update on Globe and Mail Green College article
work =Best Webfoot Forward
date =October 16, 2006
url =http://www.webfoot.com/blog/2006/10/16/update-on-globe-and-mail-green-college-article/
accessdate =2006-12-22 This is a blog posting by a Green College resident with a minor comment on one point in the (Rupp 2006) newspaper article.
* [http://www.planning.ubc.ca/corebus/pdfs/pdf-infrastructure/CliffErosionMitigationPlanJan09-2002.pdf UBC Cliff Erosion Mitigation Plan]

External links

* [http://www.greencollege.ubc.ca/ Green College website]
* [http://www.housing.ubc.ca/pdf/contracts/gc_contract.pdf Green College contract (2006)]
*cite web
url=http://www.gcdining.ca/
title=Green College - The Dining Society
accessdate=2007-04-04
author=Green College Dining Society |date=2007
work=GCDS website
*cite web
url=http://www.greencollege.ca/
title=Green College Residents Association
accessdate=2007-08-15
author=Green College Residents Association |year=2007
work=GCRA web site