Dear Wesleyan Students for a Democratic Society (SDS),

Walking from Usdan to Olin yesterday I read your numerous statements against the Bank of America on the grounds that it “FUNDS COAL,” and frankly, I’m confused.

“COAL KILLS,” you wrote in front of the library steps. Kills who? Perhaps you are saying that it kills the environment (chalking “BANK OF AMERICA FUNDS GLOBAL WARMING” and “COAL CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE”). Well then, “Clean Coal Technology” must be the answer. It will enhance domestic coal production, thus reducing energy costs while simultaneously lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Imagine that! Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion is probably a good idea too, for much the same reasons. Both proposals have bipartisan support, with Obama strongly advocating for “Clean Coal Technology,” as well as cosponsoring the Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act (CTL).

But the CTL and “Clean Coal” proposals seek only to regulate coal emissions, and do not even mention the extraction of coal. CTL and “Clean Coal Technology” would, in effect, further our country’s reliance on domestic coal extraction, thus increasing destructive mining practices such as mountain top removal (MTR) and surface strip mining. Many argue that the concept of “clean coal” itself is an oxymoron. So maybe you are talking about regional coal-dependant communities in the U.S. (chalking “FUNDING COAL, KILLING COMMUNITIES, BANK OF AMERICA”). Are you saying that “COAL KILLS” the miners who are refused health benefits after being diagnosed with black lung disease from working in the mines? Or the people living in rural coal-dependant economies because of the sulfuric acid mine drainage in their water, the coal dust in the air, or the coal trucks on their roads? Or are you talking about the mountains themselves, being cut off in the process of mountain top removal? Or the adjacent water systems and valleys that are filled in as part of this process? In this case, “Clean Coal” is not the answer. No coal is the answer.

But if you are truly concerned about how the coal industry is “KILLING COMMUNITIES,” then what about the fact that, in Martin County, Ky., for example, mining is the only local industry, and 37 percent of the population is below the poverty line? Perhaps the only reason the coal industry is destroying rural, coal-dependent economies is because, due to rapid technological advancements in the industry, there are drastically fewer mining jobs being offered. And what about the reality that coal mining is a profession that has been passed down for generations and generations, and that working in the mines can be a source of pride and dignity, as well as a way to support one’s family? Well then, increasing ALL kinds of coal mining must be the answer.

The point is, I have no idea what you are talking about. Simple dichotomies lead to simple answers, but this is not a simple issue. Our nation’s overwhelming dependence on domestic coal production continues to be one of the most complex, misunderstood and under-represented issues in our government today. For these reasons I agree that the way these issues affect us here at Wesleyan is a conversation that needs to happen, and I’m grateful to SDS for starting the conversation. So let’s talk. But chalking “KEEP BANK OF AMERICA OFF CAMPUS, THE ECONOMY IS FAILING, GROW UP,” won’t help. Did anyone notice that this was written right next to a manhole cover labeled ELECTRICITY? Where do you think our campus electricity comes from? Before we can “STOP COAL” because “COAL KILLS,” we need to expand our vocabulary. Global warming, workers’ rights, and local environmental and social sustainability are all equally urgent struggles. But unless we are careful with our words and our goals, we risk pitting these necessary battles against one another. And we also risk just getting nowhere.