Paul Scott comment: Luther College is "Sustainable-ish"

Editor's note: The Iowa Department of Agriculture says it should issue a report by the end of July on whether lawn chemicals were improperly applied at Luther College in the end of May.

By decorahnews.com's Paul Scott:

Luther College has made a lot of changes to make its campus a more sustainable community.

For instance, next Tuesday the college is hosting a Reuse Sale, to sell a variety of items no longer needed by the college.  The college has cut back on its energy consumption, has purchased a fleet of electric vehicles and has sponsored U-Cars on campus.  Luther has set an ambitious goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent and to develop a plan to eventually achieve carbon neutrality.

So why is there still skepticism about Luther's commitment to sustainability?

I believe it's because many people think that Luther's commitment is to marketing its image as a sustainable campus—not to actually operating a sustainable campus.

The latest controversy over the college continuing to apply lawn chemicals to the grass on its campus is a good case study.  Critics say this practice is not compatible with a sustainable campus.  Luther officials reportedly are concerned about the campus' appearance if the lawn chemicals were not applied.  It's an example of how marketing considerations sometimes take precedence at Luther.

But let me point out that Luther could create a "teachable moment" if potential students and their parents asked "Why does the lawn look that way?"  That's assuming that anyone would even notice the difference if the spraying of chemicals was stopped.

The continued application of lawn chemicals is seen by many as one example of how Luther preaches sustainability—as long as it doesn't getin the way of attracting students to campus.

Another example is the wind turbine that is being constructed to bring power to the Luther campus.  An engineering study showed a wind turbine located in northern Winneshiek County would produce more electricity.  Of course, that turbine wouldn't be seen from campus—the new one will.  It's another case of where marketing appears to have triumphed substance.

But here's the best example of preaching sustainability, but being ruled by marketing.  I have been told by several campus sources that it's a regular practice for the school to rip out patches of lawn prior to major campus events like Homecoming and Graduation—then to lay new sod, so the lawn will look good for the visitors.

Yes, Luther preaches sustainability, but, as the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." Right now the words say one thing, but the actions sometimes say something else.  Right now Luther doesn't have a sustainable campus, it has a "sustainable-ish" campus.