Charles Witham Memorial Website

Details on Chuck's Caltech Activism
Courtesy of Claudine Chen and Doug Smith

Of his non-academic pursuits, Chuck may be most remembered for his impressive work with bike advocacy. However, his level of activism has been in high gear at least since graduate school, where he was a vital member of the Caltech Environmental Task Force (CETF), the campus environmental advocacy group. It is likely that his involvement at Caltech, where he dealt primarily with on-campus issues, helped refine his abilities as an activist in the community at large. At Caltech, his efforts were divided among many issues. Later as a bike advocate, with a single overarching goal, his energy was formidable. Chuck was de facto head of the CETF for several years and maintained a leadership role up to the crunch time of thesis writing. His unending energy and passion was instrumental in keeping the club - which had no more than five active members at any given time - in the forefront.

Earth Day

The club's largest and most sustained contribution to the Institute is its Earth Day Fair, and the festival thrived under Chuck's leadership.

Environmental Policy

Chuck intensely worked toward adoption by Caltech of an environmental policy to reduce the impact that Caltech and its people have on the environment. He tirelessly lobbied then president Dr. Thomas Everhart and, which Dr. David Baltimore took office, the club continued the pressure.

Environmental Coordinator

After attending a campus conference sponsored by the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at nearby Occidental College, the rejuvenated club became more ambitious and in addition to the call for an environmental policy, CETF asked for creation of a new personnel position: an environmental coordinator, who would bridge the gaps among the disparate

campus entities which influence the level of recycling and water, energy and materials consumption. Chuck launched this renewed effort by inviting Dr. Robert Gottlieb of Occidental to give a presentation about environmental literacy in the university setting. In the end, CETF was not successful in getting a policy adopted or an environmental coordinator hired, but such are the battles with campus administration. What is important is that the seed was planted; the battle fought.

Xeriscaping

The club under Chuck's direction promoted xeriscaping, landscaping appropriate for a particular area's climate, which resulted in the Institute establishing a test plot of native plants.

Email announcements

To help reduce paper usage, the club promoted a system for delivering campus announcements and flyers by email, which has now been adopted as the standard method of communication at Caltech.

Recycling and conservation

During Chuck's tenure, the CETF began a computer-recycling program in conjunction with the Caltech Y. The club also maintained a dialogue with campus staff to promote energy conservation, recycling, a campus-wide environmental audit, provision of double-sided copiers in the libraries, etc.

And more

Chuck organized field trips to attend the Eco-Home tours, which feature the use of renewable materials and energy sources. True to his main passion, Chuck organized campus participation in Pasadena Critical Mass, a bike ride to promote bicycle commuting, and he spearheaded a campaign for the installation of more bicycle racks around campus.