🌿 New Department Sustainability Statement: Anthropology in Action

🌿 New Department Sustainability Statement: Anthropology in Action

The Department of Anthropology is proud to share our newly adopted Position Statement on Sustainability, published May 1, 2025. This document outlines our department’s commitments to sustainability in both spirit and practice. It affirms our responsibility — as anthropologists and educators — to reduce our environmental impact and model values of care, justice, and accountability.

Why this initiative?

In Fall 2024, students in the Anthropology Research Methods course conducted an in-depth study of recycling behaviors and sustainability at SUNY New Paltz. Their findings revealed significant gaps in campus recycling infrastructure, accessibility, and trust — and issued a call for institutional change. Their work directly inspired a faculty-led process of reflection and action.

What the position statement commits us to:

·         Eliminating non-recyclable plastics at department events

·         Using and maintaining reusable items (e.g., metal cups and utensils)

·         Ensuring fair and transparent cleanup responsibilities

·         Collaborating with students to improve recycling visibility and signage

·         Integrating sustainability themes into courses and programming

·         Inviting student feedback to continually improve practices

A living commitment

This statement is not the final word — it’s the start of a longer journey. We aim to build on this foundation through continued student collaboration, evolving departmental practices, and shared community values.

👉 Read the full statement here:

Anthropology Department Position Statement on Sustainability

With deep gratitude to the Research Methods class of 2024 for sparking this change.

— Anthropology Faculty, SUNY New Paltz