Bowdoin must focus on divestment before endowment

Letter to the editor: In order to properly “green” Bowdoin, consensus must be reached

To the Editor: In his job in the travel and tourism industry, Auden Schendler ’92 has clearly become well-versed in greenwashing. At least enough, as the tone of his column, “Bowdoin is falling dangerously behind on climate change,” makes clear, to point out where an industry expert would deem the paint too thin. Schendler’s column demonstrates two points extremely well. He is right that Bowdoin shouldn't be hiding behind green slogans and should be taking action that will drive actual change. Additionally, the text of his letter is a perfect example of how to use unbearably caustic words to destroy the possibility of consensus. For consensus is exactly what Bowdoin needs right now. Take the two headline sustainability initiatives that have come up for debate recently: achieving carbon neutrality and divesting the endowment of petrochemical firms.

Letter to the editor: Bowdoin must lead in energy reduction

Back in the early ’80s we started to hear about the disturbing increase in carbon dioxide levels measured atop the Hawaiian volcano Mona Loa. Then not much later, fellow scientists talked increasingly about the implications of this increase, and the likely effects on our climate. Public awareness at the time was minimal at best, and even most climate scientists failed to adjust their living habits to provide an example toward a reduction in carbon dioxide emission. Times have certainly changed in that there is now far more awareness of the consequences of increased carbon dioxide emissions. Clearly we have far to go, but there is a change afoot. But this change will drag on slowly, too slowly, until there is a realization of a sense of personal responsibility.

Letter to the editor

Bowdoin must focus on divestment before endowment

February 7, 2013

To the Editor:

I would have been satisfied if our meeting with President Mills yielded a commitment to formally consider our proposal to divest Bowdoin’s endowment from fossil fuels. Instead, we left with our heads full of “stay the course” rhetoric.

President Mills doubts the claim of the Aperio Group, an investment management firm that published a report finding that divestment poses virtually no risk to endowment returns.

I trust these facts, over the profit versus environmental responsibility paradigm, because my Bowdoin education does not accept convention as truth.

Bowdoin, we must criticize ourselves as much as we criticize politicians and corporations. Our institution inexcusably benefits from the common wrong.

We are connected to all lands and ages by our contributions to global warming. We can change that connection by no longer betting our endowment on CO2.

I love this school, and reaching the $1 billion endowment mark will be important for the future, but I want even more for Bowdoin. By divesting, we can join the City of Seattle, Hampshire College, Unity College, and hopefully the City of San Francisco as a leader in the moral challenge of our time.

Are these two aims mutually exclusive? We must demand action to know for sure.

Sincerely,
Bridgett McCoy ’15

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