It just isn't going to happen overnight.

This point was stressed over and over again Thursday night as leaders of environmental groups, researchers, professors and students assessed the state of "green" affairs on campus at the Greening Vanderbilt forum.

"If I had a million dollars," said the recently hired recycling coordinator Jennifer Hackett, "I could (perfect campus recycling) tomorrow. But I don't."

Hackett, one of four speakers who discussed initiatives on campus, was quick to drive home the point that having an effective program will require more than just money, though.

And others seemed to agree. Discussion toward the end of the forum came down to one other key point: Being an effectively "green" campus will require a culture change.

Senior Will Deacy agreed, saying he was not shocked by the low turnout at the open event.

"I wasn't expecting to see a lot of people here tonight," he said.

For him, the forum was a place for likeminded campus groups to network and understand the green initiatives underway, Deacy said.

"I just came to get a better understanding of what is going on on campus," agreed sophomore John Michel. Michel said he also came because of an interest in environmental policy and on behalf of the student group Net Impact.

"I don't think the average student is informed as much as they should be," Michel said.

Top on the agenda were the status of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications on campus and improvements in dining, said Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling president Brent Fitzgerald.

Reports on LEED certification noted that a number of Vanderbilt's recently constructed buildings, like Featheringill Hall, could achieve at least basic LEED certification with minor improvements.

Sustainability Coordinator Andrea George explained that water and energy conservation were also extremely important. She said she hopes that further education on the topics and an updated Web site will help students and faculty understand the process a little more.

"With the ‘Think 1' campaign," George said, "we are trying to find out the best way to get students to change their behavior."

Hackett also announced that all residence halls except Carmichael Towers will be equipped with blue recycling bins in the fall. She said she hopes Towers will be similarly outfitted by the fall of 2009, saying, "Improvements will occur as finances allow."

Hackett said collecting data was the central goal at the moment.

Though senior Adam Greenhall said he was glad to see the gathering Thursday night, he was disappointed in the lack of defined goals in programs like recycling.

"We are seeing all this really positive stuff, but we don't turn the lights off at night," he said. "We don't really know where we are going with all of this."

— Sydney Wilmer can be reached at sydney.e.wilmer@vanderbilt.edu