If a student organization were not all they expected it to be, most students would leave the group and try to find one they liked better.
When Ami Grace was in this situation, she did leave temporarily - but returned to strengthen and improve her organization.
Grace, a School of Natural Resources and Environment senior, joined the group ENACT (Environmental Action) in her first year at the University. ENACT has existed at the University since the 1970s, but it has "gone through fluctuation periods," Grace said. "It kind of died at the end of my sophomore year."
Although Grace and Angie Farleigh, also an SNRE senior, were the only two members of the group at the beginning of their junior year, Grace was motivated to try and reform the organization. Grace said she had been interested in environmental issues since high school, but had specific ambitions for ENACT.
"The reason I'm so into it now is that I quit ENACT my freshman year," Grace said. "There was all this stuff that could be done, but wasn't getting done."
At that time, Grace had several other commitments at the University. She was active in Phi Sigma Pi, a coed honor fraternity, and was part of the University's peer mentorship and public service internship programs. Still, she saw ENACT as a higher priority. As she ruefully commented about her senior year, "I quit everything for ENACT this year."
Farleigh agreed with Grace on the importance of ENACT. "I think that having people aware of environmental issues is important," she said. "A lot of people don't realize environmental issues are more than saving the rainforest. It has to do with drinking a glass of clean water, or breathing clean air."
Grace said that ENACT is currently working on increasing its membership, which has been the most difficult part of restarting the group. "Since last year we've been kind of building up numbers," she said. "We know there are people who care about this issue. The problem was getting them, then getting them excited and interested enough to want to stay."
Grace has worked to maintain ENACT's ongoing projects, such as petitions and letter-writing campaigns. "We tend to get a lot of people who want to do stuff in the dorms," she added.
ENACT should be highly visible on campus for the rest of this year. "We're going to work on Earth Week again, and we'll probably work on Great Lakes issues, like pollution. We'll be working on making recycling easier in the dorms, too," Grace said.
The group has also worked on larger events. Last year ENACT sponsored projects for Earth Week and organized a benefit concert to raise money for environmental issues. While the group is funded by MSA, ENACT also holds fund raisers to support its projects.
One major project for ENACT was completed last week. The group arranged for Sierra Club President Adam Werbach to speak at the University.
Farleigh said that the group is also helping to plan the winter 1998 theme semester, which will have to do with environmental issues. She said ENACT will suggest possible speakers and topics for classes.
Grace explained that ENACT also plays a part outside the University. "We're part of a group called SEAC (Student Environmental Action Coalition) - we're a chapter of theirs," she said. She also described ENACT's work with other college environmental groups during the Free the Planet campaign, which fought against environmentally harmful legislation.
Farleigh was confident that ENACT will remain a strong organization after she and Grace graduate. "There are two or three people that I know will carry it on. I think that it'll stay active."
For her part, Grace plans to continue working actively on environmental issues. She is currently double-majoring in resource ecology and environmental policy.
Grace has already made several plans for her future. "I'll probably work in the nonprofit scene for a couple years, then go to grad school. I want to look at the interface between science and environmental policy."
Still, Grace's graduation will most likely make a difference to the group. Not everyone can revitalize an organization in a matter of two years.
As LSA senior Jason Pasatta summed it up, "Ami Grace is one of the most devoted people at this University - she makes a real conscious effort to do things that make a difference. She goes out and does things, instead of just talking."
n If you know someone you would like to nominate for the Student Focus, e-mail estavros@umich.edu.
MARGARET MYERS/Daily
School of Natural Resources senior Ami Grace has reorganized the University environmental group ENACT.