Tucked away in a rural village in upstate New York is a private liberal arts college with a storied past, mysterious lore about the number 13, and loyal alumni that include famous names like journalist Chris Hedges, Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s, and political journalist Gloria Borger.
All. Or Nothing. A mental booby-trap that is like quicksand for the mind and is easy to fall into in our increasingly bifurcated world. I played into this false dichotomy during a recent visit to Colgate University. I had the opportunity to speak with their students in the Environmental Studies program, and find out firsthand: does Colgate University compost? Yes? Or no?
Julia Sparks is the Coordinator for the Environmental Studies Program and doubles as the University’s Assistant Director of Sustainability. Julia works alongside Director John Pumilio, the man that’s been tasked since 2009 with implementing more sustainable systems at Colgate. John has been steadfast in bringing composting to the University, along with a litany of other measures to cut their carbon footprint. In just 10 years, Colgate has reduced its carbon by 46%, in large part thanks to John and his team’s efforts.