Hundreds of Professors Hold Green 'Teach-In'

Source: Associated Press

Jan 31, 8:39 PM EST
Hundreds of Profs Hold Green 'Teach-In'

By JULIA SILVERMAN
Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Global warming issues took over lecture halls in colleges across the country Thursday, with more than 1,500 universities participating in what was billed as the nation's largest-ever "teach-in." Organizers said the goal of the event, dubbed "Focus the Nation," was to move past preaching to the green choir, to reach a captive audience of students in many fields who might not otherwise tune in to climate change issues.

Faculty members from a wide spectrum of disciplines - from chemistry to costume design - agreed to incorporate climate change issues into their lectures on Thursday. Community colleges and some high schools also took part.

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The day's activities were the brainchild of Eban Goodstein, an economics professor at Lewis & Clark College in Portland who authored a widely used collegiate textbook on economics and the environment. Major funding came from Nike, Clif Bar and Stonyfield Farms, among other companies and foundations.

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Some participating professors said the climate change issue already had been woven into their syllabus, in areas as disparate as philosophy and urban planning. "For my students, three years ago, it felt like I was shoving this down people's throats. Now it feels mainstream," said Jane Nichols, who teaches interior design at Western Carolina University. "Students don't want their future clients to know more than they do."

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