To: The Graduating Class
From: Leadership, Ethics, and Social Action program, Dept of Political Science
We invite you to consider taking the pledge: (cards and ribbons available in Woodburn 210)
"I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."
Whether you take the pledge is voluntary. It allows people to determine for themselves what they consider to be environmentally and socially responsible.
Different universities have had different levels of official administrative and faculty participation in supporting the pledge and in having recognition of the pledge be an official part of the graduation ceremony. The website, http://www.graduationpledge.org, has many details and practical suggestions for implementing the pledge and finding work.
Students who are interested can pick up in Woodburn Hall 210 a wallet-sized pledge card to sign and a green ribbon to wear.
We have recognized that the pledge can be supported by anyone who wants to be intentional about the responsibility of his or her employment. It is our hope that your support of the pledge will contribute to the cooperative effort to build responsible citizenship for a sustainable world. The pledge is a serious commitment and pledge signers have taken actions such as turning down jobs they did not feel ethically comfortable with (and letting their potential employers know why) or promoting environmentally friendly efforts while on the job.
Your wearing of a ribbon will make a public statement of your intent to consider the well-being of the world and its inhabitants both when you consider job possibilities and after you are on the job.
Sincerely yours,
Joelene Bergonzi
Leadership, Ethics, and Social Action
Department of Political Science
Woodburn Hall 210, 855-6308
