By Renee Fasanaro
Reports vary on how long the flag was gone before anyone noticed. Last semester, four A Delicate Balance students petitioned for an Earth Flag to hang with the American flag next to Pollack Hall. The flag symbolized the mission of Green Mountain College, representing that we are all part of a larger, global community. At some point this semester, the Earth Flag was stolen.
The college described the prank as a “slap in the face,” and has sworn that we will “cancel Earth Week until the flag is returned.” Although the administration has justified their stance on this matter as “fighting fire with fire,” many students do not agree with the punishment. Christopher Revill described the decision to cancel Earth Week as “the most backward, absurd thing I have ever heard. Doesn’t the college know that Earth Day is on 4\20? It’s like they’re taking away Christmas.” Other students were more surprised at the college’s action than they were the actual thievery. Many students did not even know we had an Earth Flag. When John Warfel received the news, he questioned with sad eyes, “can they really cancel Earth Week?!”
It is unclear at this point when the flag was stolen, and who the first person to notice it gone was. Saddened and angry, Kate Biller quipped that she “hopes we catch the S.O.B. that took it.” Sharon Drum, fellow dirt-worshiper, was surprised that a member of her community would do such a thing. “Who would steal the Earth Flag, like seriously, I thought we were supposed to like the earth, not hate it,” she said, with childhood disappointment.
There are currently no suspects under investigation for this crime against our ecosystem, and the college has not yet issued a final statement regarding what extent to which Earth Week will be cancelled. There has been talk of closing the recycling and composting programs for the week, as well as prohibiting participation in any drum circles, face painting, Frisbee tossing, and general barefootedness outside of the shower from April 21-25.
April fools! On a more serious note, campus security officer Gary Paolillo noticed the Earth Flag missing on March 10, and issued a report on Monday, March 11. Students paid for the flag out of their own pockets. No one knows who stole it, or how it will be replaced.
