S. Drew Story | September 29, 2016
The Board of Directors at the California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) is a diverse team of individuals working together towards one common goal of empowering students across California to affect positive change towards sustainable culture, both on campus and in their communities. The diversity of this team is not limited by ethnicity and cultural background. The Board consists of a variety of professional skills and educational training, and this ensures a refreshing mix of perspectives.
Will Carlon, J.D., has come full circle in his engagement with the fight to promote sustainability. From his time at UC Davis as an undergraduate to his tenure as a law student at the University of Oregon, culminating in his recent appointment to the CSSC Board of Directors, Will contributes to sustainability efforts through his law practice and his service with the Coalition.
Having grown up on an organic blueberry farm, Will has a self-professed close connection with nature. He always imagined committing his life to an environmentally relevant career. Public interest environmental law is a natural prescription for that innate desire, and his training has granted him unique skills that he brings to the CSSC table. Will’s sense of responsibility to be an actor in the sustainability movement, and specifically within CSSC, comes from his recognition of his ability to contribute. When asked “Why you, and why now?” pertaining to his involvement with sustainability, Will’s answer was simple. “If it’s not us, then who is it going to be?” he said.
As a practicing environmental attorney, Mr. Carlon looks at the word slightly differently than most associated with CSSC. Logistically, Will is able to guide the team regarding actions it can take as a non-profit, such as the level and types of political engagement we can participate in that do not jeopardize our non-profit status. Will’s familiarity with public records requests is a useful tool that CSSC can use to determine how much money different public institutions invest in the fossil fuel industry, for example.
A UC alum, Will provides some experiential advice on how current students can be most effective when it comes to engaging their communities, both on- and off-campus regarding sustainability. Campus administration is responsible to its current students. This provides a platform for students to feel empowered to speak their minds on issues affecting the student body, whereas an external organization does not have the vested interest and therefore immediate attention of the administration. However, Will is quick to point out that if the institution is at odds with student’s calls for change, the strategy on behalf of the university can quickly devolve to playing the long game, waiting for a new wave of students to enroll and replace those demanding action. In this scenario, Will points out that organizations like CSSC can provide “continuity of message through years,” and thus getting involved with CSSC can be crucial to the success of student-led campaigns. CSSC has the infrastructure and staff that can provide organizational support and allow students to effectively participate in the sustainability movement.
Will Carlon is a key member of the Board of Directors, and with his experience and passion, the California Student Sustainability Coalition can continue to be an invaluable resource for students in California.