Humans are reaching a critical point as a species. For decades, we have lived as if the resources on planet earth were endless and the environment indestructible. This, however, is not the case. We have a limited time to change our direction and leave a planet to pass down to our ancestors, but that window is quickly passing. Here at Olin, we try to be mindful of our effect on the environment, but there is so much more that each of us could be doing. It is important that we take steps to reduce our impact for several reasons. First, it is easy to make a difference. Even if you don’t want to invest all your time and effort in living sustainably, you can easily reduce your carbon footprint, and, in turn, your negative impact on the environment. Next, it is time to push Olin College to the forefront of the sustainability movement. College campuses are incubators for social movements, and, as a community that highly values doing good for the world, Olin belongs at the top. Finally, everybody has a stake in the environmental movement. Climate change affects all people, and, no matter your interests, you have something major that will be put in jeopardy. As the upcoming generation, we have the power and the ability to change the course of humanity. With the ease of commitment, values in the Olin community, and the personal investment that we all have in the climate, there are a myriad of reasons to become involved with environmentalism at Olin.

 

        Everyone can affect change. There are many easy ways to adjust your daily habits in order to be more sustainable. Often, the sustainable choice is just as easy and convenient as the alternative, and all it takes is a change of habit to do your part. Each time an object is thrown out that could have otherwise been diverted from the waste stream, it imparts an unnecessary impact on the environment. When items are thrown out in the trash, they are either incinerated (which produces harmful pollutants) or buried in a landfill, which imparts a large impact on the eco-system. However, the larger impact is that the material is not longer usable, so when a product is created, new material needs to be acquired. If each individual took an extra second to think if the object they are tying to dispose of could be recycled, reused, or composted, that impact could be eliminated. When items are recycled, they eliminate both the impact of disposal, and the impact of the new material otherwise needed to make the new product. Dairy and meat also have large environmental impacts, due to the way that livestock manufactured. Trying to eat limited amounts or local meat and dairy can significantly lower your carbon footprint. This does not mean that you have to cut meat and dairy out of your diet entirely, but making a conscious effort to think about the impact of the food you eat makes a difference. In addition acts such as turning off lights, lowering your heat, and carpooling also help (cotap.org). Changes like these, while small, can make a large difference in the long run. When people get into the habit of sorting their trash, eating local foods, or turning off the lights, they take that with them throughout their lives. These easy, quick, and convenient tweaks to an everyday schedule can make a large difference in making Olin more sustainable. A reduced impact on the environment the results of climate change, which affect all, are lessened.

 

        Olin has always been a leader. As a college at the cutting edge, we have the chance to also become a leader in the environmental movement. Now more than ever, sustainability is an integral part of what it means to be technologically advanced, and prestigious. Many other colleges, such as Wellesley, Babson, and countless others around the country, have already become leaders by implementing programs, such as extended composting, single stream recycling, local food, divestment, and more. When you visit one of their campuses, sustainability efforts are very visible. The buildings include the latest in energy-saving technology, sustainability is integrated into all parts of the curriculum, the students are invested in the environment, and there are signs talking about their efforts at every corner. Even if a school is doing a lot in regards to the environment in their buildings, if they do not show this and incorporate into the community and curriculum, they do not get credit from the general public for their efforts. 

 

        At schools with successful sustainability programs, the movements are almost always driven by students, with the support of the whole school behind them. It was students that got schools like Stanford, Unity, Hampshire, and many others to divest from fossil fuels (350.org). Olin’s mission statement says that Olin students "design solutions and engage in creative enterprises for the good of the world” (olin.edu). Olin was founded on the idea that we have skills that we can put to use for a greater good. One of the most impactful things that, as a college, we can do for the world is to be a leader in the sustainability movement. We are a community full of creative and smart individuals. We need to make sure we live up to out mission statement, and surge to the front of the sustainability movement. This would not only reduce our environmental impact, but also amplify our community of caring individuals seeking to better the world.

 

        There are so many reasons, such as community values and convenient ways to get involved, why it is important for every student at Olin to get involved in and care about sustainability. However, on a more practical level, each individual has a personal stake in the environment. Whether you like to ski, enjoy eating fresh fruit and vegetables, live in an area with a drought, near the coast, in the path of hurricanes or tornadoes, and countless other examples, you are will be significantly affected by climate change in the very near future (if you have not already). We are facing a crisis, and our generation has the best chance at stopping it, as we have time, strength in numbers, and a large impact on the public dialogue.

 

        Back when apartheid was happening in South Africa, students around the world got their school to divest all their money from companies profiting from the racist system. This student-led initiative put international pressure on all those who supported apartheid, and this led to its demise. Much like the environmental movement today, the students saw the opportunity to better the world. They realized that it was their responsibility to take action, and they changed the course of history. Now, as we face the threat of climate change, our generation has the opportunity to make our mark on the world. The process has already started with movements such as the new divestment movement (inspired by the movement around South Africa). In this movement, students are asking colleges to divest their endowment from oil companies. This sends a clear message to these companies that oil is not something that people want to support, but it also shows the colleges commitment to the sustainability movement in a very significant way (350.org). The movement is already rolling forwards. All Olin has to do is jump on. We each have a reason to support climate justice, the influence on the public discourse, and the ability to act.

 

        Living a sustainable lifestyle is easy. With so many convenient opportunities to alter your actions and significantly decrease your footprint, students have every reason to take action. Living with the environment always in mind will chance how you view your actions. It will become second-nature to think about the environmental consequences of your both you actions, and the actions of the people around you. Taking an extra second to recycle, compost, or turn off a light (and encouraging others to do the same) can actually have a large impact. Especially at Olin, where we have a caring community that is always at the cutting edge and doing good for the world, we need to come together and show that sustainability is a priority. 

 

        Our community is one of the strongest parts of Olin, and we are all here because we care deeply about what we do. If we can take that power, and bring it to the environmental movement, we could accomplish untold amounts. Even though is Olin small, we have a powerful student body that has the capacity to affect real change. Between our mission statement, our caring community, and progressive philosophy, is our duty to become a leader in sustainability. By doing that, we become part of the solution to climate change.

 

        GrOW, Olin’s sustainability club, is a great place to start getting involved with sustainability. With low to high levels of commitment, and many different projects to match interests, everyone can find make be a part of making Olin more sustainable. Each member can choose what projects they want to work on, and incorporate their other passions into their work. If you don’t want to get involved in a project, just come to our meetings Thursdays at 6:00 on the DH Mezz. There are many ways to participate that do not require outside work or a large time commitment. If you would like to do more work, however, there are also many ways to get involved in a larger way. If you have a sustainability-related project, GrOW is here to help you make that happen. We have resources that you can use, and can connect you to other people who can help. Alternatively, we have many projects that we are working on currently, and it is easy to get involved with one of those. With all levels of commitment, GrOW is an easy place to get involved with sustainability at Olin.

 

 

Works Cited

 

350.org. 350.org, Web. 1 Dec. 2014. 

cotap.org. COTAP, Web. 17 Nov. 2014.

olin.edu. Olin College, Web. 17 Nov. 2014.