The sustainability conversation at BC

The students and faculty of Boston College are immersed in an environment conducive to promoting societal awareness. Ahead lies the task of changing the current course of our civilization from one that exploits Earth's resources to the point of irreparable damage, to one that balances current needs with those of future generations. As an institution of higher learning, BC holds a commitment to social justice and, combined with its abundant resources, compel the community to press for sustainability.

In the words of University President Rev. Willian P. Leahy, S.J., "Boston College endeavors to educate a new generation of leaders for the new millennium - men and women who will be capable of shaping a new century with vision, justice, and charity - with a sense of calling, with concern for all of the human family." In order to shape this new century with vision, justice, and charity, new leaders need to realize the consequences their actions will have for future generations. To embrace concern for all of the human family, leaders need to understand the relationship between humans and the environment.

All members of BC can contribute to creating a society that has a sustainable relationship with the Earth. BC historians and sociologists can teach the lessons of societies that have failed to reach sustainability. Laws and business practices can be fashioned to sustain a drive to achieve the ideals of our democracy. Scientists can reveal the important processes and patterns on Earth and explore sustainable avenues for progress. Educators can help to shape students to realize the short and long term societal consequences of their actions. Social workers and nurses can find those whose risk is most immediate and lend a helping hand. Fine and performing arts scholars can express the emotions that arise from the crises their generations face and inspire actions that initiate change. Philosophers and theologians can support a core understanding of justice and marshal the courage to change the current unjust and unsustainable patterns in our society.

BC has made a strong facilities-based commitment to sustainability. As part of the Master Plan, BC recently agreed to develop an institutional sustainability plan, focused on campus operations. Substantial components of this plan are based on the strides in sustainability that have been made by dining services, facilities management, information technology, and the BC Bookstore.

However, given the enormous scope of the challenges facing our society, it is now time for BC to take the next step and integrate sustainability into the educational and research components of the University. There are several centers and programs that already embrace sustainability, such as the Center for Corporate Citizenship and the Leadership for Change program. Unfortunately, because of their individualized missions, these programs can not accomplish the goals that need to be achieved to ensure the continued success of humanity. Outside of these centers, there are many who believe sustainability is a necessary component of an improved world view. These community members have come together through SustainBC, a volunteer organization dedicated to integrating sustainability into campus operations and the academic component of BC.

Creation of a University sustainability task force would help our community integrate existing efforts toward sustainability with an expanded University commitment to sustainability. This task force would provide a structure for reviewing, facilitating, and implementing sustainability plans. To effectively work with all constituencies engaged in promoting sustainability, this task force would need to be composed of faculty, staff, and students (an integrated model shown to be successful elsewhere) and should be granted institutional standing, complete with funding, include participation by the deans of schools and the director of student formation and have a reporting relationship to the Provost. This would be even more effective in implementing change than the current SustainBC.

The unique challenge for BC is to integrate diverse expertise to alter society's current, dangerous trajectory, and achieve sustainable relationship between societies and the Earth.