Considering the progress made towards a sustainable food loop at Lafayette, one might question the need for further action.  Complacency becomes the default of large institutions whose priorities lie elsewhere.  However, within the fabric of Lafayette’s mission—it’s goals, plans, and history, lies the directive for a more sustainable food system.

Mission Statement:

“encourages students to examine the traditions of their own culture and those of others; to develop systems of values that include an understanding of personal, social, and professional responsibility”

The beginning of the statement calls on students to reflect upon the way they live their lives in relation to other cultures.  If students at Lafayette are to examine their own traditions and cultures within this microcosm of the United States, behavior surrounding food waste must be included.  The second line of the Mission Statement, which delves into the need for “personal, social and professional responsibility”.  Understanding that each person is responsible for their own actions that lead to waste and the social repercussions of such behaviors clearly falls within the college’s mission.

Charter:

In Section 46.E of Lafayette’s charter, it states that Lafayette should seek to “enhance the College’s relationships with the external community, including the greater Lehigh Valley” (Lafayette College, 2015).  Enhancing this relationship means expanding the scope of mindfulness when making decisions, including those related to dining services.  Not only can lack of attention to the larger community affect the local food system economically, but it can also be detrimental to the local environment, as contributions to landfills increase, and to social infrastructure, as people living a few blocks from the college’s plentiful buffet lines struggle to find their next meal.

History and Future:

Lafayette was founded by the people of Easton in 1826 (Lafayette CollegeA), and therefore has more than a geographical tie to the city.  As plans for major expansion of the college in the Easton community continue to unfold, as seen in the new Williams Arts Campus (Miller, 2015), the administrative move to the downtown Alpha Building (Kelly, 2017), and the proposed housing on College Hill (Tropp, 2016), this social responsibility will become even more paramount.  If the college wishes to encroach upon more of the City’s property, goodwill and reciprocity will be essential.