How to be green at Yale

By Michelle Hlubinka

Several Yale actors pride themselves on being Mudpeople--members of the guerilla-theater troupe at Yale which promotes environmentalism. Whether you consider yourself radically green or are simply concerned for the earth's future, there's a place for you. And not necessarily in the puddles.

The primary environmental group on campus, the Yale Student Environmental Coalition (YSEC), serves two functions within the Yale community. First, as an umbrella organization, it links about 15 affiliated groups, maintaining a sense of coherence among the various organizations. Second, and more importantly, it offers a forum for environmental action and discussion.

The Green Cup, a four year-old YSEC initiative, provides a way to actively integrate environmentalism into the college system. Students become more environmentally conscientious, while also reaping some of the benefits of recycling. With $5,000 in prizes given annually to the residential colleges with the best recycling records, Green Cup is by far the most lucrative intramural competition on campus--they don't call it "green" for nothing! It's also the easiest one to participate in: all you need is your big blue recycling bin, a stack of used paper to put in it, and your friendly Green Cup coordinator to count it.

YSEC has also taken an active role in sponsoring Spring Fling, the campus-wide celebration of the end of classes that also coincides with Earth Day. This year, beef was banned at the Spring Fling barbeque, spurring much campus tension. But YSEC leaders maintained that the best way to make a statement about overgrazing was to raise a public debate, and demonstrated the typical YSEC approach of initiating public dialogue.

Every movement has a voice, and the magazine ecocentric speaks for the environmentalist community, presenting many perspectives on student environmentalism. If you like to sign petitions, hike through Sleeping Giant State Park, or advocate for policy change, Yale's environmental community is always accessible. And if you never touch a drop of mud, that's okay too.

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