the Sam Jackson College Experience

Initiated by a post at EphBlog (a Williams College blog), I decided to start a series comparing some of the advantages and disadvantages of Yale compared to small liberal arts schools. Not specific schools, just smaller schools in general. This was always a big concern for me, and I hope others might benefit from my commentary. Please join the discussion in the comments.

For the first proper inaugural post of this series (part 2 considering the intro), I will start on a positive note and mention current events: Yale organized and over the last two days conducted the 2008 Governors’ Climate Change Conference. I liveblogged it here, if you are interested in a blow-by-blow word-by-word account. It was a gathering of governors, Canadian premiers, foreign ministers and other observers which saw 18 US states representing more than 1/2 of the US population (and more than 1/2 of its emissions) signed an agreement on the 100th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s 1908 Conference of Governors which launched the modern conservation movement with Gifford Pinchot (Yale alum).

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nobel Laureate Pachauri (chair of the IPCC!) spoke in the final presentation which, combined with the public signing of the declaration, filled up a huge venue on campus, Woolsey hall. Yale’s money and brand power enable it to host large conferences and attract big names which provide exciting opportunities for Yalies to participate and engage with political and thought leaders from around the world. Some would say that today was nothing but grandstanding at that the chance to see famous people talk is not as exciting as it might first appear. After all, it’s not as if students were getting one-on-one time with the Governator or anything like that, right?

Wrong. In addition to Arnold specifically meeting with a bunch of lucky California students, there were significant trickle down effects from this event. For example, the Czech deputy prime minister / environmental minister was present, as was the Czech ambassador. After the conference, I went to a small gathering (15 students) where we spoke with them and talked about issues for climate in the EU and in general. It was a really great opportunity to personally meet with and talk to someone important who has a lot to say about this issue.

The Czech environmental minister would not have shown up to a small college with fewer resources or less national and international clout, because this conference wouldn’t have taken place at all without the significant Yale resources. Dan Esty, lead negotiator in 1992 for the US, introduced things; he teaches at the Law School and Forestry & Environmental Studies school; we read many of his influential papers in my class. My current Environmental Studies professor is also at F&ES school and is on the international policy circuit: the other week, Tamara Stark, of Greenpeace China, came and we had a lecture from her about Chinese forestry issues (the class is on International Environmental Governance). Would she have shown up at a small college without a prestigious forestry school? No.

Just one example from TODAY of the many great opportunities which arise when you are at a school with resources like Yale’s! More on how this comes to play in Master’s Teas and other events in future posts.

Yesterday at the MacMillan center for international studies, there were too many events going on and not enough people to attend them all. I went to a talk by the UK permaent representative to the E.U., but at the same time an expert on policies of preemptive strikes was giving another talk, and immediately following that there was another session with a policy advisor to Obama talking about US-UN relations. That was just one evening at one part of Yale. There is a level of activity going on which really calls for the large scale resources of a university of this size, prestige, and wealth. I’m not saying that this is what is necessary to have an excellent education, I’m just saying that when a student is prepared to take advantage of these resources, they are much appreciated. I have written before about how many students do not.

Liveblogging of the 2008 Yale Climate Change Conference, Woolsey Hall (Press Release here). For complete liveblogging coverage, click “read more” as updates will continue to be pushed downwards as new ones are added. Newest updates are at the top.

Friday’s gathering will also celebrate the centennial of President Theodore Roosevelt’s landmark 1908 Conference of Governors, which launched the modern conservation movement, planted the seed for the National Parks System, and inspired significant state efforts to protect land. The event will celebrate 100 years of state leadership on critical environmental issues, confront the present climate challenge, and set out a vision of a federal-state partnership for future action.

3:05 : MYTHBUSTERS! Crazy guys. Talk about how mythbusters is cool on discovery channel. Buster should go into politics. They should invest in the myth that businesses and republicans are obstacle to progress on environment, greenhouse gases. I say this is a myth. [bla bla bla] Democrats are obstacle as well, even if rhetorically they are trying to slow down the approval process-schizophrenic. People don’t want to let solar plants go up in Mojave desert because of the transmission lines; it’s not just businesses, it’s also environmentalists and environmental agencies. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of possible. We need transmission lines, battery cars need batteries and electricity, hydrogen cars need fuel, nuclear power has waste, biofuels can lead to deforestation–no silver bullets, only silver buckshot.

Engangered squirrel–which MIGHT like to live in the area near a power plant–stops solar plant, hypothetical squirrel is stopping up environmental progress. Environmental regulation can hold up environmental progress.

Relax, exhale, let things move forward. Good that there are young people here.

I am optimistic, despite obstacles. Very optimistic. young people have new ideas. Movement must reach critical mass. You can feel the big things moving and coming together. You can feel the momentum. Don’t be downhearted. Every day I see in CA what is happening, and say things are about to move our way. Thanks! APPLAUSE, OVATION.

3 : CA is giving the nation and world a push, UN wanted to have CA keynote to give the world a push! CA is at the leading edge of the environment economy of green, clean technology. Even besides global warming,incentives for new energy sources–environmental cause would be unwinnable without capitalism! Shift is happening all over the world. Leading german consulting firm says that german clean green industry will be greater than auto industry before next decade is out there. Time for environmental revolution.

2:50: Worked out with President Levin earlier, he is very buff–benchpressed a sophomore. There is a connection between bodybuilders and environmentalists. A long time ago people were embarrassed to talk about weight lifting–Kirk Douglas and others did not want to be associated with weird people in spandex dungeons. When asked how they got their bodies, “we were born like this.” A book, Pumping Iron came out, and then a movie : ) and this changed things (dir. George Butler is here). Sport became more and more popular, and the perception of bodybuilding changes, and now there are gymnasiums everywhere and people talking about abs and delts and six packs.

Like bodybuilders, environmentalists are thought to be weird fanatics. For too long, environmental movement has been powered by guilt. Smokestacks powering out hot tubs and big screen TVs. If only we could live like monks on straw mats. People are not going to give up plasma TVs. Ladies and gentlemen, movements don’t make progress based on passive guilt. Successful movements are built on passion, critical mass, an element of alarm to galvanize action. Environmental movement is switching from guilt-power to some newer and more dynamic. Image is also changing from one of hand-wringing and whining to something hip, cutting edge–even sexy!

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