By TINA IYER
Features Editor
 

Filling a newly created position, Libby began working at the College as a part-time employee only recently, starting her duties on September 15. She cannot be blamed for being unaware of Austin's or having an undecorated office.

Libby explained this position of environmental coordinator as one in which she will "coordinate campus efforts in becoming a greener campus, in facilitating these efforts and bringing people together."

According to Libby, the college's creation and implementation of this position is particularly significant; while there are many members of the community who are environmentally aware and conscious, there are precious few who have the time to devote to merely being green. Libby's job is being green.

"My focus will be environmental issues at Bates. It sometimes is difficult [for others] to find time or energy in their own job to implement something. People have been doing things in isolation and haven't had the institutionalized backing," Libby said, sipping lime-flavored Poland Spring seltzer water. Libby's job is part of getting that institutionalized support for environmental issues and change on campus.

For Libby, who credits her concern for the environment to her love of the outdoors, "This job is a luxury for me personally," Libby said. Libby's personal life is a living testament to her environmental commitment. Although she can't car pool to Bates because she is here only part time and commutes from distant Camden, Libby owns a used car that gets good gas mileage. She tries to buy used clothing, noting the importance of not merely recyling but reusing goods. Libby and her family live close to town so that they are within walking distance of most stores, and have installed lo-flow showerheads and faucets in their home.

"I try to consume as little as possible. I try to buy organic foods," Libby said.

The role of the environmental coordinator is still being formed, and according to Libby, "A lot of my job will be defined as I go along."

Currently, Libby is busy introducing herself to and meeting with various individuals and campus organizations and departments. She has sought out both environmentally focused campus groups and departments, such as the Environmental Studies program and the Environmental Coalition, and she has also attended a Resident Coordinator-Junior Advisor meeting. In addition, Libby set up a table outside of the bookstore to introduce herself to students.

Libby wants to be visible as a resource on campus, and also to understand the Bates situation. "Right now I'm getting to know the playing field," she said.

Libby graduated from Bowdoin College in 1986 with a degree in economics and environmental studies. She clarified over e-mail: "To major in environmental studies, at least in 1986, a student had to fulfill all the requirements of another major, and then do the environmental studies component. It was slightly less than a double major, more than a minor. They called it an interdisciplinary major, but it is somewhat of a misnomer because, in fact, I had to fulfill all the requirements of the economics major."

Following graduation, Libby worked for Outward Bound and began an environmental studies program at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire. In these jobs, "I did a lot of what I will be doing at Bates, on a smaller scale," Libby said.

She is now experienced at beginning these types of programs and creating her own positions. "I like the excitement of being in that position [of starting something new]," she said.

Libby foresees herself working closely with the Environmental Confederation, a group of students, faculty, and administrators, who will be the main institutional vehicle for environmental change at Bates.

Presently, the goal of Libby and the confederation is to assess the status of environmental issues and action on campus and to see where Bates stands with regard to recycling, the conservation of energy, and other such standard concerns.

Following this assessment, the confederation will decide upon ideas for implementation and change. "There are so many things that could happen," Libby explained. "There are hundreds of things that could happen. For example, we're trying to figure out where we want to go with recycling."

In this situation, Libby views her own role as that of follow-up and facilitation; she will be responsible for putting the College in touch with resources for such change.

Libby notes the distinction between the terms director and coordinator: As a coordinator, Libby promotes and facilitates change, but she herself is not the only individual responsible for giving orders or deciding the best course to pursue.

Initial environmental progress will be simple and obvious; it is the addressing of these highly visible and necessary issues that are currently the highest priority. Recycling is a prime example, because "it [recycling] is kind of the baseline expectation for being environmental," Libby said.

I bemoan the lack of organized recycling in Chase Hall. I know where to recycle my newspaper, but what about cans? And where do the colored papers go?

Bates is working on plans to get color-coded recycling bins throughout campus. Once the plan is complete, it will be taken to Pat Murphy, director of the physical plant, another individual with whom Libby will work closely. "I'll be dealing with the physical plant more than any other department," Libby noted.

Recycling is both environmentally correct as well as symbolic of the larger sphere of environmental awareness. Libby also sees the benefit of tackling recycling first because it is an inclusive action that the entire community can take part in. Libby explained, "We're trying to educate people about the system. We're going to make it really easy."

Furthermore, recycling "has the highest chance of success first," Libby said. Once such change is implemented and the College sees how much money can be saved, the College can move on to deal with more challenging and complex environmental issues such as land management practices, investment strategies, and the general reduction of consumption on campus.

Libby mentioned the progress that Dining Services, under the direction of Robert Volpi, has made environmentally. Volpi tries to buy local and organic products, and composts his food.

"I was definitely impressed within Dining Services, not to take away from anything else. I guess that I was just made more aware of what Dining Services has done environmentally," Libby said.

As she ate her curried chicken on pita, Libby also commended the Environmental Coalition and the students involved, many of whom have taken their time to get to know her. She wondered aloud about how they had the time to be so active and concerned.

"Environmental issues, in a community for people who want to make it their priority, should be there," Libby said, but also maintained that for people for whom environmental issues cannot be a priority, "it should be just as much a part of their lives as basic respect for human beings."

When asked to compare the relevance of priorities of multicultural issues to environmental issues, Libby said, "They are all important, worthy issues for people to be concerned with. They are different issues but not mutually exclusive."

"It might be easier on the surface [to not think about environmental issues], but not being aware would eat away at me," Libby said. She noted that once one takes time to make changes in their own life, "it becomes as much of a routine as anything else."

Certainly not everyone can live a life of environmental perfection, but any knowledge is good, according to Libby. Even choosing to be non-environmental if there is a recognition of that choice is progress.

"I need to get people to want to do things that are environmentally responsible. It's part of my job. But I know that there are competing interests out there, valid competing interests," she said.

 
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