EDITORIAL A Worried State of the Union and The College's Estimable Model of Sustainability

Author: Jonathan White

A Worried State of the Union



In Tuesday evening's State of the Union address, President Bush solidified the compassionate conservatism that he touted during his run for election in 2000. He proposed using the federal budget to fund the development of hydrogen automobiles, while advocating mentor programs for dispossessed youth and the children of criminals. He also put forth sweeping plans to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. We look forward to seeing the fruits of the president's labor on these "compassionate conservative" fronts, especially in the fight against a disease that threatens the decimation of a continent, the disruption of global security and, here in the United States, one that disproportionately afflicts youth and minorities.

Yet Bush once again beat the war drums, affirming that he is ready to force Saddam Hussein to disarm. He indicated that this nation is on the brink of war and he referred to a willingness to go alone in this venture.

This month, Middlebury students traveled to Montpelier and Washington to protest a possible war. In the town of Middlebury, demonstrations have been a mainstay on the town green on Saturday mornings since Sept. 11. Americans are clearly questioning the merits of the president's policy. Bush must be forthcoming and acknowledge the potentially grave consequences of this war: economic disruption, an inferno in the Middle East, the loss of life in Iraq, and, yes, the loss of life at home. The potential for terror reprisals on American soil is real.

We await a compelling case for why action is unavoidable and believe that the president must not act alone. Doing so would only feed more vehement anti-Americanism that our generation will be forced to confront for decades to come. A war to make us more secure may only make us more vulnerable.



The College's Estimable Model of Sustainability



Once again, Middlebury is making headlines with its environmental initiatives. Recently the College announced a deal with Island Pond Woodworkers for the use of sustainably-harvested wood in the new library. This month, too, the College was featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education with the journal focusing on Middlebury's purchase of environmentally-friendly furniture for the Ross Woodstove Lounge manufactured by Beeken Parsons furniture in Shelburne.

Middlebury has shown that business development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. Moreover, the College's green investments have helped businesses in Vermont. This happy marriage of environmentalism, investment and support for the local economy has encouraged alumni giving and it is one that should be held up to a national audience as something worthy of emulation.

The Bush administration has shown that economic development and environmental conciousness are rarely compatible. A mainstay of the president's domestic agenda has been the weakening of environmental legislation and protections for the benefit of industry. Just last week, the Republican-dominated Senate endorsed legislation that will open millions of acres in the Tongass National Forest, the temperate rainforest that spans the southeast Alaska coast, to wanton logging. This flurry of anti-environment activity in Washington stems from the mindset that development takes precedence to environmental considerations.

Middlebury's recent initiatives are, however, in tune with the president's promotion of economic development. More importantly, however, they are instructive to the Bush administration, if Washington would pay attention. Development does not have to go in tandem with the repudiation of the environment. The College should continue to lead on "Smart Growth" and sustainability fronts. These efforts are inspiring in these otherwise meager times for the American environmental movement.