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A Focus on Politics When he was in high school, Tom Wheeler ’10 had a strong mental image of the college he’d like to attend: a small school with an environmental focus in a rural atmosphere. If the school also provided an outlet for his political interests, that would be an added bonus. Tom hails from Seattle and admits he sometimes misses living near the ocean—“the Poultney River is not quite the same,” he said. But otherwise, Green Mountain College has been a perfect fit. “I’d love to work for an environmental organization or for a political candidate who shares my views on sustainability and energy policy,” Tom said. Tom is majoring in environmental studies with a concentration in policy planning. He wants to go to law school after he graduates from GMC and has his sights set on a first-rate environmental law program, perhaps at The Vermont Law School, The University of Washington, or Lewis and Clark University. If all politics is local, then Tom has developed an impressive resume at GMC. As co-chair of the Student Campus Greening Fund, he evaluates student proposals for sustainable initiatives—this year the College will be installing new bicycle racks on campus among other projects. He has served on the Student Senate and plans on running for president of the Student Government Association this year. He’s also had a taste of political disappointment—his run for student senate vice-presidency fell a few votes short last year. “It taught me a lot about how to organize a campaign. I’ll be out there shaking hands this year.” Tom has also gotten involved in state politics while attending school in Vermont. During his freshman year he was a student representative for Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) successful Senate campaign in 2004. He led a local voter registration drive and helped organize a student rally in Castleton where he had a chance to meet the candidate. “That’s one of the great things about politics in Vermont—there are so many opportunities to get involved with a high profile campaign at a grass-roots level,” Tom said. With another election cycle coming full circle during his junior year, Tom is pumped about putting together another campus voter registration drive. Meanwhile he is honing his oral argument skills with a group of like-minded students who are forming a debate team this spring. “I like being where decisions are made,” Tom said. “Green Mountain College is a place where I can contribute to positive change.”
