New "hippies" bring seriousness to sustainability

When most people think of environmentalists, they think of tie-dyes, bell bottoms and sandals.

Today’s environmentalists, however, are substantially changing that stereotype with suits, cell phones and strategy—and in doing so, are improving their clout and credibility.

This is absolutely true for four SUNY Fredonia seniors. Susan Kornacki, Adam Malchoff, Joe McGrath and Alex Staunch have taken student involvement in environmental issues to a new level, not only changing the campus’ view of sustainability, but making major strides in regional and national political circles as well.

“There is a certain sophistication to being environmentally conscious,” said Malchoff, a History and American Studies double major.

The four have brought light to the seriousness of sustainability as members of the Campus Climate Challenge, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), and Fredonia’s Sustainability Committee, a group of administrators, faculty and students focused on reducing the negative impact the college has on the overall environment. Joining these groups early in their college careers has led them to leadership roles and altered their academic paths to more clearly express their points of view. In addition, each has adopted a personal issue for which they are passionately advocating.

As chairman of the campus’ chapter of the DEA, Malchoff, from Phelps, N.Y, is currently working to implement a $5 increase to every student’s activity fee, to be allocated for sustainability projects on campus each semester through a program called the Green Initiative Fund.

Staunch, a native of Fairport, N.Y., would like to make the campus plastic bag-free. Plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill, he explained, and take the lives of many animals, which often mistake them for food.

“My hope is to eventually have the school supply every student with a cloth bag, which would be funded by the Green Initiative Fund,” said Staunch, a Biology and Geology double major.

Kornacki, a Visual Arts and New Media and English double major, was the intern coordinator for Earth Week 2009 and the inspiration behind the campus’ first Eco Fashion Show, which featured ethically made clothing, locally designed styles and hand-me-downs with a twist. The Elma, N.Y. native is trying to develop a new major at Fredonia, Environmental Studies, where students would apply social, economic and cultural impacts on environmental issues, a major she says she would have loved to pursue as a freshman.

As president of Fredonia’s Campus Climate Challenge chapter, McGrath, a History and American Studies double major from Clifton Springs, N.Y., recently worked with the Faculty Student Association (FSA) to provide information to visitors of Erie Dining Center, promoting tray-free dining habits in an effort to reduce water usage and wasted food.

“Last semester on ‘Trayless Tuesday’ during Earth Week, food waste decreased from 6.4 oz. to 4.2 oz. (per person),” said McGrath. “Our hope is to eventually get FSA to cut down the amount of trays in dining halls across campus.”

To learn more about the many sustainable initiatives being led by SUNY Fredonia, visit its Sustainability Committee's website here.>>

Each of these students also rides a bike or takes a bus most places instead of driving a car—although, they admit their relative lack of “green” (money) plays as much of a factor in this decision as does their desire to live “green” (reduce carbon emissions).

They do, however, make an effort to recycle everything possible, buy products made from recycled material, and eat locally grown or organic foods. Staunch has not used a single plastic bag in over a year, while Malchoff proudly admits to using hemp hair products. While this may sound as if the hippie stigma is still intact, these students disagree.

“The environment became a top issue in our world because it became a respected issue,” said Malchoff. “It’s no longer a hippie issue; it’s a political issue.”

During the 2008 presidential election, these four Fredonians worked on an Energy Action Coalition (EAC) campaign called “Power Vote,” designed to send a message to candidates that young voters were focused on the environmental and economic future of the country. Through their efforts, 814 Fredonia students — the seventh highest percentage among all participating colleges — signed the Power Vote pledge, promising to vote for the candidate that best supported green jobs and green energy.

Staunch also organized a trip to Washington, D.C., for 43 students in February 2009 to rally with 12,000 others for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, designed to help the country transition to a clean energy economy. The House passed the bill in June.

“This experience was empowering for me as a brand new activist,” said Kornacki. “It gave me a clear look at the kind of change we have the power to enact.”

All four students have discovered that getting involved in these initiatives has opened their eyes to the changes that need to be made throughout the world. They have been changed forever, and for the better. Thanks to their efforts and dedication, so has SUNY Fredonia.