College Grads Go Green On Graduation Day!
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 05.22.07
Well we've had a green Oscars this year, but how about going green at graduation? Turns out showing eco-solidarity at graduation just may be a theme that catches on this season. As one example, more than 100 of the 560 graduates at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania signed sustainability pledges promising to recycle and conserve resources as part of graduation day. But they took it a step further by pinning green ribbons onto their black graduation gowns during the ceremony itself to show solidarity with one another in the fight for a sustainable future. As Ian Roderick, an English and history major from Moorestown, N.J. pointed out, "I think that our generation is the one that actually has to make the real critical choices about sustainability," and going on to add that, "Wearing this ribbon shows solidarity with others. If you show people you're thinking about it, then others might start thinking the same way." With certainly like-minded college and high school students across the nation set to graduate this spring I’m wondering how many might choose to get involved and make it a national form of action. It could be one way in which students can stand together and let the nation know that they certainly do care about the environment, and that they are willing to take action to protect it.
A step in the right direction would be if universities rented graduation gowns!! What a waste for everyone to have to buy one, only to let it collect dust for years to come. Reuse, reduce, recycle!
That's a lovely gesture, and is a nice addition to pledges to use their talents and skills for the good of the country.
Sara:
I thought that cap and gown rental was fairly common practice at colleges. I'm graduating this year, and my university rents out the gowns and lets you keep the caps (although I could care less about mine... maybe they'll take them back if I turn it in with the gown anyway).
I guess in the worst case scenario, if you have to buy your gown and it's black, you already have a costume if you get invited to a last-minute costume party; you can go as a judge!
Many universities, at least NZ ones, do hire graduation gowns out. I don't know anyone who has their own gown. It's a nice little money earner for the University.
Hi my name is Tracy and I must say I'm impressed this news made TreeHugger because it seems a million miles from the little campus of Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA where I was actually a member of the graduating class this past Sunday.
I'm writing because, as an intern this spring semester for the Sustainability Department, I headed up the first annual pledge at Dickinson titled: "Class of 2007 Sustainability Graduation Pledge." I thought I'd give some more information on it and clear up some discrepancies for anyone curious enough to read this.
The Sustainability Graduation Pledge was founded at a college in California and students from over 100 universities to date have signed the pledge. The Graduation Pledge Alliance is now headed up by Manchester College, also in CA (http://www.graduationpledge.org/index.html). Although recycling and conserving resources is often a sub-category of sustainability, the actually pledge read as follows: "I _______ pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of my decisions. Furthermore, I pledge to use the knowledge I gained while at Dickinson College to improve the sustainability of the communities in which I live, learn and work."
We had 130 people from our class of 550 sign the pledge this year and sport the green ribbons at Commencement. Very successful for the first year and I cannot wait see how the pledge grows in the future.
Thanks!
Tracy
When I graduated from college we didn't have to pay for them but we also got stuck with them afterwards! Same with High School. They didn't have a progaram to turn in the caps and gowns. So now I am stuck with them! Unfortunately at the high school I attended they change colors of gowns pretty much every other year. I think its great if you could rent them or turn them in after use!