Dimly Lit Evidence

Coming to us anonymously via email this morning: the compelling story of a President challenged and worldviews clashing.

Frustrated by the need for a more bike and pedestrian accessible and friendly campus, and no doubt encouraged by Leave Your Car At Home Week and yesterday’s Jeff Olson lecture, a group of students spent last night filling President Glotzbach’s reserved parking space behind the early childhood center with benches. In their email the group explains their collective frustration with the “hypocrisy inherent in a leader that preaches environmental sustainability but still won’t give up 45 seconds with his driving gloves and leather interior.”

You see, Glotzbach lives at 740 N. Broadway, a mere .2 miles from campus, yet apparently still drives to work everyday, which is actually pretty lame. Attached to the surreptitiously planted benches was the group’s challenge to Glotzbach, luckily this manifesto of sorts was reprinted in the email for us all to enjoy.

These benches are here to give you a chance to make a positive decision. As President you’ve spoken about the need for environmental sustainability, but we find it hypocritical that you drive to school when you live a half mile’s walk. We want you to help change this community in the only way possible – through positive decisions and leading by example.

We’re challenging you to leave these benches here and your car at home. We’re challenging you to walk or bike to school every day of the year. The majority of our students already do it everyday, so join them. It’s sustainable, it’s healthy and it’s a great way to start off the morning. We’ve put these benches here so that you can spend five minutes twice a day to relax and gather your thoughts before saying hello or saying goodbye. Take this as a positive message. Each and every one of our actions sends a message and can make a statement – here’s an opportunity to exercise that power and demonstrate what we know you believe. The only reason we hope to see these benches moved would be if they were to be replaced by a reserved parking spot for the President’s bike, or, better yet, a public, covered bike rack for your students and fellow faculty members. You are the leader of this campus and we want to follow you, so give us something worth following. We’re a college full of creative thought: it’s time for creative action.”

While I am a bit disappointed that it isn’t dramatically penned in bicycle grease and doesn’t really contain the endearing, crazy rambling I expect from anonymous letters issuing challenges of environmental sustainability the message is clear.  What remains to be seen is how Glotzbach responds.