“Niagara Falls is more than a big waterfall. For Americans is it the waterfall. Niagara has long been, for many, the epitome of the sublime, offering the experience of a powerful natural feature of superhuman scale that inspires awe and fear. To others is has been a spectacle, a source of cheap power, a historic landmark, a livelihood. Niagara has never meant the same thing to everyone, and its meanings have changed over time, reflections of cultural context” (Sprin, 95).

It is so interesting to think of Niagara Falls in such a meaningful way. When I visited the falls, I was awed and fascinated by its geologic history, changing and receding over time. This reading describes it as “the epitome of the sublime”, which relates to the significance of the sublime aspect of wilderness. This passage from the reading in Uncommon Ground reminded me of another interesting section from the earlier reading by Cronon.

“But even as it came to embody the awesome power of the sublime, wilderness was also being tamed – not just by those who were building settlements in its midst but also by those who most celebrated its inhuman beauty” (Cronon, 75).

This passage describes the sublime as a holy experience that inspired awe, even terror instead of joy. Niagara Falls fits into the category described above, where wilderness is being tamed and affected by man. People have affected the falls, so they are not in a purely natural state. Despite this, they are still sublime in that they have this awesome power, though the site is one of many being altered to fit what people want to see.

Before this class, I had not previously paid too much attention to the landscaping choices around campus. I now find it interesting to note the straight lines of the well-maintained grounds and consider how much planning might have gone into a particular site. My work for the pollinator garden included acquiring approvals from the Facilities Planning and Construction department, so I understand the meticulous care behind the campus landscape. One feature that interests me is the appearance of the trees on the quad. These trees are planted on the green space and surrounded by a perfect circle of soil and mulch. These circles (and their respective trees) dot the quad and even seem a bit odd to my freshly tuned eye. The school has a high standard of campus beauty and appeal to maintain as a well-ranked liberal arts college. The aesthetic is a key component considered by prospective students. Beauty and functionality must meet in a perfect plan of the landscape. While the work absolutely pays off, I doubt many people consider all of the thought behind the ever-changing campus appearance.

“It is a soothing employment, on one of those fine days in the fall when all the warmth of the sun in fully appreciated, to sit on a stump on such a height as this, overlooking the pond, and study the dimpling circles which are incessantly inscribed on its otherwise invisible surface amid the reflected skies and trees” (Thoreau, 205).

This passage stood out to me because I feel I can relate to this. In his descriptions of the fall, Thoreau depicts what may be seen around us now. The temperatures of this season force us to appreciate each warmer day, and the warmth we enjoy now would have seemed quite cold a few months ago. Perspectives change with the seasons, and this passage highlights the peacefulness of a pond, especially at such a time. At home, there is a pond out in the woods that is fascinating to enjoy with its reflective and mostly smooth surface. The passage describes a beautiful setting, and it shows how Thoreau does truly feel a strong sense of attachment, appreciation, and love for Walden.

“Flint’s Pond! Such is the poverty of our nomenclature. What right had the unclean and stupid farmer, whose farm abutted on this sky water, whose shores he has ruthlessly laid bare, to give his name to it?” (Thoreau, 214)

Thoreau again addresses the idea of naming things. The importance of names and titles appears to be an important, recurring theme in class. A name defines, acknowledges, honors, or references someone or something. Thoreau discusses some ordinary farmer who happened to have a pond nearby, which became known as his own. He does not necessarily think this fair to the land and to history. He declares later that if naturally-occurring, beautiful locations are to be named after men, then it should only be the greatest and noblest men of all to represent nature.

Concerns have been expressed in England recently over potential “bag rage” regarding a new charge for plastic shopping bags. However, I find it encouraging to see such firm action being made at this level. Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Bangladesh, Rwanda, and parts of the United States have already implemented charges or restrictions on plastic bag use. It is crazy to think of how these bags end up everywhere, polluting the environment and killing wildlife regularly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/world/europe/plastic-bag-charge-england.html?ref=earth

“In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and also respect for the community and such” (Leopold, 240).

Leopold’s brief summary of his idea of “land ethic” stood out to me in the reading as a critically important detail that points out what the world needs now. In order to properly conserve and achieve a widespread sustainable mindset, people must first respect the surroundings and strive for this land ethic.

“No important change in ethics was ever accomplished without an internal change in our intellectual emphasis, loyalties, affections, and convictions. The proof that conservation has not yet touched these foundations of conduct lies in the fat that philosophy and religion have not yet heard of it” (Leopold, 246).

This passage highlights the difficulty in achieving the aforementioned land ethic. To reach people on a deeper, meaningful level remains a task that requires significant efforts over a great period of time. Such change cannot be achieved overnight or even over multiple years. Once an idea, such as conservation, reaches foundations of belief and conduct, then it will be an integral idea. At such an ideal point, conservation would simply be a given aspect of daily life actions for people.

“A land ethic, then, reflects the existence of an ecological conscience, and this in turn reflects a conviction of individual responsibility for the health of the land. Health is the capacity of the land for self-renewal. Conservation is our effort to understand and preserve this capacity” (Leopold, 258).

Leopold simply states the significance of a land ethic in terms of conservation and health of the land. These three key points (land ethic, health, and conservation) are the integral facets to environmental awareness and protection that people must sincerely work to achieve in our time.

First off, I think Shana Weber and all of her efforts at Princeton are awesome, and I hope that Lafayette can soon make similar strides in sustainability efforts. I felt that Dr. Weber really did “uncover sustainability” at her talk. The question of how to nurture an ethos of sustainability is one that she has clearly striven to answer.

College campuses are truly a prime spot to develop sustainable practices as a living laboratory that thrives off the elements of engagement, teaching, communication, and research. Colleges hold a great deal of prestige and influence, and small scale successes across campuses have the potential to spread beyond to influence the nation and the world. Lafayette has so many students and faculty with great ideas, though they are not always feasible. This positive sustainability influence might be enough to encourage the school to place a higher value on the development of these practices.

Dr. Weber made an excellent point in saying that an integral part of a liberal arts education must be a focus on sustainability. Lafayette needs to make this a higher priority throughout the campus. One of the ideas I particularly enjoyed was that water bottles full of helpful information are passed out to the first year students right upon moving to campus. What a positive message from the very beginning! I hope to have a strong coordinator like Shana Weber and to see more emphasis on the sustainable efforts at Lafayette in the future.