What can Middlebury students do in this transition?
Middlebury students have a history of strong environmental advocacy, primarily supported by the Sunday Night Environmental Group and connections with community members. Students have been successful in pressuring the administration to take action and more away from unsustainable practices. Students were behind Middlebury’s divestment campaign, Energy 2028, and are currently working on the “Stop Dirty Banking” campaign. It is clear that student voices can make a huge impact on the college as a whole, as long as voices unite and continue to put pressure on the larger powers until change is made. However, it can be intimidating and difficult to unite and create a powerful platform when students are busy, overworked, and involved in a lot of extracurricular activities. Therefore, it is important that students realize smaller ways they can make a difference and change their behaviors in the pursuit of a just transition.
There are a number of ways for students to create larger change, some of which are included in the list below.
- Use information fairs and environmental activities/events as platforms for advocacy.
- Approach Middlebury structures/organizations that you can get involved with. For example, you can create a blurb to go in all student emails, the Middlebury Campus, or posters around campus.
- Create an accessible project that is attractive and easy to get involved with. Examples would include a “swap shop” or a veggie distribution program.
- A Reuse-Repair cafe has been created at some universities, where students collect and redistribute household goods within the student body.
- Invite new students into your space and make them feel welcome to share ideas and have discussions.
- Host Open Forums where creative conversations can be had between students, and even with faculty/staff. Climate action focused training such as “Carbon Conversations” engage people.
- Create incentives for environmentally-focused behaviors. For example, some universities have prizes for the hall of residence that uses the least energy, or restaurant vouchers for the most environmentally friendly costume during traditional university dressing-up events.
- Get involved in the Middlebury Sustainability Lab or the environmental council. Take on an internship or independent study with these programs that enable involvement, learning, and obtaining college credit.
- Connect student groups with similar aims to get more voices united.
- Utilize social networks and media to share information, gain support, and gauge student interest and action on certain issues.
- Continue to support the Knoll, and take advantage of volunteer opportunities. There is also opportunity to expand food growing around campus, with a possibility of creating tiny gardens associated with departments or residence halls.
- Create a skillshare where students teach each other practical skills for life. Fixing bicycles in the bike shop is a great example. Skill workshops would be a great way to build community and help students become more self-sufficient.
- For student travel, embrace cycling, car-sharing, public transportation, and taking local vacations.