By Brandon Seng, Communications Manager, Michigan Nonprofit Association

The Pine River that flows past Alma College presents an unfortunate service-learning opportunity.  Not unfortunate because students are given the chance to serve their community, but unfortunate because the service that they are performing is a direct result of severe pollution of a once pristine river that winds its way past Alma’s campus.

From 1935 until 1978, Michigan Chemical Company, later bought by Velsicol Chemical, operated a chemical plant in St. Louis, Michigan, and was responsible for dumping vast quantities of pollutants into the regional environment.  A product mix-up in 1973 at the plant resulted in contamination of cattle feed throughout Michigan and the Midwest in the 1970s.  The mistake gained national attention as Michigan’s food supply was put at risk, and the plant was shut down in 1978 after investigation. 

Several years of negotiation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) led to a settlement in November of 1982. In 1983, the EPA designated the Pine River as a superfund site. Superfund is the name given to the environmental program established to address abandoned hazardous waste sites.  The superfund classification confirmed more than a half century of environmental abuse to the watershed.

When an emergency removal of toxins was declared in 1997, citizens in the St. Louis community demanded a voice, which had not been allowed earlier.  Alma College and the St. Louis community collaborated to form an EPA sanctioned Community Advisory Group, which serves as a conduit between the community and the EPA.  With the goal of a healthy waterway, the group was named the Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force and continues to monitor activity in the Pine River.

Velsicol Chemical is just one of the contributors to the pollution of the Pine River.  A former refinery and automotive plant also appear on a long list of industries that have to be taken into account when considering the overall health of the river.  With DDT levels in local fish at 40,000 parts per million, the college started to keep a close eye on pollutant levels in the watershed.  Dr. Melissa Strait, chair and professor of chemistry at Alma has been involved in the program since the first community meeting.  Her students are greatly involved in doing this water analysis, and their test results have thrown up several red flags, demanding attention from the EPA.  “Students often think that you teach them things that aren’t real,” said Strait.  “It’s great when they can see an immediate connection.”

To be affective in their mission, the Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force knows that many specialized talents need to be tapped.  Therefore, opportunity for service-learning truly crosses all disciplines at Alma, and is integrated deeply into the college’s daily operations.  Beyond those interested in water quality, the partnership has convened a group of students and faculty interested in areas ranging from film to community studies.

“I became involved because I’m interested in African Policy,” explained Alma student Drew Emge.  “They are introducing DDT in Africa to combat malaria.  At Alma, we have a firsthand account and case study for what DDT brings to an environment.”

The partnership between Alma and the Pine River Superfund Citizens Task Force gained statewide attention when it became a finalist for the Carter Partnership Award for Campus-Community Collaboration in June of 2007.  This award, organized by the Michigan Campus Compact, honors and recognizes exemplary collaborations undertaken by a college or university in partnership with a community group, which address critical areas of public need.

Through monitoring the quality of the watershed, Alma College is ensuring that the quality of their environment and the health of their community and students remain priority.  Through the project, Alma students have become connected with that community, and have been inspired to take action.  “This is now MY community,” exclaimed student Lindsay Cain.  “This is a big deal.  What happens (in Alma) is happening to me, this is my chance to take a stand.”