Notes from the Desk The green/global contradiction

Author: Alex Garlick

Middlebury is deservedly proud of its status as a global institution; the dozens of international flags flying off of the roof of Voter during commencement is a sight to be seen. It really shows how far some Middlebury students have come. But under the lens of sustainability, it literally shows how far students have come to be educated here. And these thousands of miles, powered by petroleum or jet fuel, have an inherent cost, a cost that a truly sustainable institution would be wrong to ignore.

Acknowledging contradictions like these is at the heart of our Green Issue, and there is no greater contradiction for the College than its desire to be carbon neutral and to be the first truly global liberal arts college. It should come as no surprise that our planet is facing an environmental crisis during the age of globalization; the two are inherently at odds.

Let's touch on the controversial topic of carbon neutrality. In order to be neutral, it cost The Campus $12 in offsets to transport the newspaper 120 miles to be distributed here today. How much would it cost to transport a student here several times annually for four years from Singapore, or to transport a professor back and forth to Monterrey, Calif. for a lecture? Undoubtedly, the cost would be much higher. While I feel the concept of carbon neutrality is itself arbitrary and suspect, quantifying one's environmental impact is useful. The College's global view, presence and students are at the core of the Middlebury experience, but they also pose a significant environmental challenge.

A global outlook is currently more central to the College's mission. Should the College change its priorities? In my opinion, absolutely not. The Campus editorial mentions that the primary purpose of sustainability measures is education. Is it blasphemous to make this statement in the very pages of the Green Issue? Judge for yourself, but like a local foods advocate who enjoys lettuce and bananas in the winter months, the College deserves to have its cake and eat it too.