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Extraordinary Student Leadership on Environmental
Practices Celebrated at Pomona College Graduation
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On May 13 during Pomona College’s 114th Commencement
Exercises, President David W. Oxtoby celebrated the
extraordinary leadership of Pomona students on environmental
issues. "In my four years on campus, I have been struck that
so much of the leadership at the College comes not from the
top down but from you, the students,” said Oxtoby.
“You took the issue of climate change and did not just watch
movies and throw up your hands; instead, you analyzed
College practices and proposed specific strategies to reduce
our carbon footprint; you started a campus climate challenge
that lowered dormitory electricity use. You laid the
groundwork for other critical steps ranging from reducing
water consumption to cutting the number of cars on campus
through a Flexcar rental option,” he noted.
Specific examples of the students’ leadership on the
environment included the following:
• The student-led Pomona Campus Climate Challenge, which
started as a research class, prepared a remarkable 87-page
report on Pomona College greenhouse gas emissions, as well
as recommendations for changes. The group was led by seniors
Praween Dayananda and Ada Aroneanu. Joining them were Kyle
Edgerton, Class of ‘08; Stephen Conn, Class of ‘07; and Tara
Ursell, Class of ‘08.
• Last fall, students organized the incredibly successful
Dorm Green Cup Challenge, an information campaign and
competition, which resulted in students reducing their
consumption of electricity by over 5 percent. In response, the
College purchased renewable energy credits from the
Bonneville Energy Foundation, equal to the amount of
electricity that would be required to support 1,065
households for a 30 day period, according to the Bonneville
website.
• A student initiative, now in its second year, produced
energy savings by having students replace incandescent light
bulbs in their dorm rooms with fluorescent bulbs. In part in
response to this successful project, Oxtoby created a
$15,000 fund to support similar campus projects.
• Recognizing that food and sustainable agriculture are
critical issues for the 21st century, a group of students
continued work to build the organic farm, and student demand
was instrumental in having a course on Farms and Gardens
added to the curriculum.
• And, Femke Oldham, Class of ’07, wrote a thesis in Public
Policy Analysis on the subject of "Water at Pomona College:
An Investigation of Policies and Practices."
While Oxtoby noted that it's been hard to keep up with the
students this year, the College has taken separate steps
towards sustainability as well.
• The College opened its second and third buildings, the new
Edmunds and Lincoln buildings, built to the U.S. Green
Building Council’s silver standards.
• In April, Oxtoby signed the President's Climate
Commitment, pledging the College to take serious steps to
reduce production of greenhouse gases.
• The President’s Sustainability Committee was established
to help coordinate and connect activities, monitor critical
indicators of environmental performance, develop new
approaches and ideas to improve the College’s sustainable
use of resources.
• And this summer with the goal of reducing student cars on
campus, Pomona will begin negotiations with FlexCars, a
car-sharing company that provides low-emission,
fuel-efficient vehicles at an hourly rate.
In addition, The Claremont Colleges have jointly set up a
fund of $50,000 per year for three years to spark ideas for
environmental projects from faculty, students, and staff
that cross campus boundaries. Three projects have already
been approved, including one led by Pomona Professor Richard
Hazlett.
Led by students, Pomona College has made major strides
during the last few years to be a wiser consumer of natural
resources, further develop a campus ethos of resource
sustainability, and incorporate environmentally sound
practices in its operations.
Despite these accomplishments, Oxtoby noted that, “Much work
remains to be done, not only on environmental sustainability
but more broadly on social sustainability: building a
society in which difference is respected and welcomed, in
which everyone has the opportunity to use their talents to
succeed and in turn to give back to the world, in which
income is not the prerequisite for success."
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