THE YALE FREE Press Neomi Rao ym advocacy of tree-spiking to teaching New kids how to plant flowers in the spring, environ- at Yale encompasses a whole spectrum of 2 and degreesof activism. The Yale StudentEn- ental Center (YSEC) forms a network of more fieen environmental groups that make use of the *¢ Jaserprinter, fax machine and copier. Accord- YSEC Public Relations director Peter Colavito 793), “We formed a coalition to work together t. effectively, and pool our resources and ideas.” the result of this coalition is the creation of a e. y-accepted environmental orthodoxy preached “=, somewhere in the basement of Pierson where is headquartered. Discussions and publications Bemplay the scientific doubt in many environmental _ Preferring to erron the side of perceived safety, anizations collectively espouse an often ex- brand ofenvironmentalism, untempered by doubt. eater the sensation, the greater the reaction from sly uninvolved students. Colavito affirmed, We are an advocacy organization. . .our job is to cent our side of the facts.” © The danger occurs, however, when these environ- Bentalists make decisions for their listeners and read- &) Often the full facts are not presented, and widely sputed environmental claims are simply given as fh, This one-sided interpretation of the facts leads to disputable brand of environmentalist thought that fains unquestioned on campus. Peter Braasch, chair- lof Y SEC, denies any environmentalist orthodoxy, ing, ‘Sure, there issome consistency between groups, it’s not really an orthodoxy.” ; 3 5 3 Yet a review of Yale’s environmental literature because it is something tangible and result-oriented. ‘io reflect a diversity of views. The three major The most prominentand publicized environmental mental bogeymen, the greenhouse effect, the Project of the past two years has been the Green Cup g ozone layer, and the dangers of acidrain, are campaign. The idea originated in Y SEC and has since sited in the Green Cup manual though all three _ been turned over to the university, which pays conser- ries have come under serious scientific attack (see vation committee coordinators in each college. Plan- icle, page 10). Both the Green Cup manual, how- ners of the Green Cup hope that by providing economic f and publications like Ecocentric accept issues _¢fficiency for the university and intra-college rivalry has global warming astruth withnoreferencetothe for the students, the Green Cup will establish environ- failing scientific doubts. Ecocentric, a quarterly mental awareness as a permanent part of the institu- azine affiliated with the Yale Herald, has also tional framework. Other efforts to institutionalize id to include arguments for free-market environ- €fvironmentalism include proposals to make environ- ilalism despite the growing acceptance of thisform Mental education mandatory through freshman coun- ivironmentalism in government policies. selors. “It would make these programs part of every Marjorie Dial, editor-in-chief of Ecocentric, ad- Student’s introduction to Yale, so that in several years ‘hat her magazine operates as an opinionated it environmentalism] will be an accepted fact on Scate. “We are part of advocacy journalism, but we campus,” proposed Dial. ‘ 2 $ fo promote a dialogue.. .we don’t want people to The challenge so far has been to build genuine On the margins of environmentalism, because it Support for the project. Fong, who was also recycling ves everyone,” Dial said, Currently themagazine _ coordinator for Pierson last year, observed, “Youreally mining the environmental positions of presiden- need people to care. All the publicity thrown in their fandidates, so that students may ostensibly vote faces won't do any good unless they really want to do preater consciousness. Dial stresses the impor- Something about the environmental problems around fof shaping the opinions of students on environ- them.” While the Green Cup has attempted to reach the al issues: “In the closed environment of the uni- greatest number of students through the residential fy, students can really get a handle on the issues. Colleges, the true test of studentinvolvement will come mportant to realize the hazards totheenvironment, after several months of competition, when conserva- ise eventually we will be in prominent positions, tion figures can be-accurately tallied, showing the le to affect other people by our decisions.” amount of absolute dollar savings to the university Not all YSEC organizations work toshapestudent from the venture. Even if the Green Cup saves money, fs on the environment. Though not nearly as however, measuring the educational effects of a pro- iment on campus as Ecocentric and Save James gram that has reduced environmenialism to intramural Some YSEC organizations provide a refreshing _Tivalry will be difficult. Froots environmentalism. Fertile Ground was In the short term, YSEC has planned an extensive led last semester by Caitlin DeSilvey and Jen Earth “Week” agenda, one that organizers hope will lo teach third gradersat the VincentMauroschool compare to the 1990 Earth Day extravaganza that the environment. Twice a week Fertile Ground brought 10,000 people toits celebration. Music will be The Obedient Limbs of YSEC Yale’s Powerful Environmental Movement coincide with Communiversity Day, the traditional celebration of Yale-New Havenrelations. YSEC hopes to integrate the New Haven community into its envi- ronmental education campaign. Braasch emphasizes, “We have to start with the environment as New Haven. It is an ecosystem in itself.” ~ Stretching the scope of Earth Week to its limit, YSEC has also made efforts to link its environmental movement to alleviating poverty, teaming up with the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project to conduct a clothing drive. After an overwhelmingly successful Earth Week in 1990, YSEC suffered some difficult transitions. The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), a national organization, rose to prominence on campus and created a great deal of doubt and instability within the other groups. Including groups as disparate as the sports-oriented Canoeing/Kayaking Club and the radi- cal Save James Bay Student Network, YSEC’s diver- sity threatened the coalition’s existence. According to Braasch, the coalition could have disappeared in December, 1991 had YSEC not rede- fined their purposes and procedures. The elimination of SEAC from the campus, accompanied by new lead- ership and the establishment of an office in the base- ment of Pierson gave the center a new impetus. They are Currently rebuilding their forces and Braasch feels that “Earth Week will be the real litmus test.” The determination and hard-work of members of Yale’s environmental movement has paid off. YSEC has created a permanent, powerful, and respected pres- ence at Yale. Its impressive organizational strength is matched by few student groups at Yale. Unfortunately, like environmentalism outside of Yale, YSEC and its member groups have promoted a dangerous orthodoxy that includes the unquestioning acceptance of contro- versial theories like the greenhouse effect. With their ers take the children on field trips to plant flowers fants, ng, dissatisfied with mainstream environmen- fat Yale, prefers the down-to-earth character of ‘Ground, “I have a lot of problems with the en- F and not much action. I like Fertile Ground ental movementhere, becauseitseemslikealot various camping trips to Sleeping Giant. prominently featured during the week’seventsinclud- powerful network and growing influence, YSEC’s ing a concert with folk-singer Richie Havens and an _ subtle promulgation of this orthodoxy deserves careful Old Campus Earth Jam with Yale student bands. review. Additional Earth Week activities include (barring rain) an Old Campus “Underneath the Stars” sleep-out and —Neomi Rao, a freshman in Silliman College, is pub- lisher of the Yale Free Press. Conveniently, the last day of Earth Week will