"Are You Going to Eat that : Freeganism" by James McQuiston

I am a Freegan. Makes it sound like I am a member of a weird religious cult or something, doesn’t it? Actually, being freegan is a ideology that most people at least somewhat subscribe to at DePauw. Freeganism is an ideology, unlike vegetarian or veganism, that actually doesn’t limit you on what you can eat or wear. I’m not going to go out and buy a $300 leather jacket brand new and merit the slaughter of a cow, but if I can find a used jacket for cheap or free, you best bet I’m going to be picking that up.

Remember in an episode of Seinfeld, where George Costanza goes for that eclaire that is sitting in the trash? That’s freegan. Freeganism is the ideology where people do not consciously try and support the ever-wasteful consumerist culture prevalent in most dominant states. Whether it is going and rummaging through the dumpster at the local donut shop for the day-olds or modifying junk-store and Salvation army fodder for your use, that is freeganism at work.

Why freegan at DePauw? Simply put, DePauw and its inhabitants waste so many resources on a daily basis that one can live fairly comfortably off the pickings of individuals. Living in a unit with thirty other people allows me to go and find half-pizzas from the night before still in the box, half-used notebooks, CDs, or simply piles of Abercrombie and J. Crew clothing that have been cast off by former inhabitants. Some of these finds, such as the recent acquiring of a PlayStation 2, may be in a depressed state. With a little ingenuity, however, these formerly broken-down pieces of junk can be restored into something that works.

My parents are the biggest reason why I currently hold this position. While they didn’t ever just go and tell me to be freegan, they always went to flea markets and were able to get new or excellent-condition pieces for their house, pieces to fix up and sell, or just items of personal comfort. As a result, I’m always on the look out for the best deals, some of which that I actually need, and some of which I can resell. Needless to say, I can live pretty comfortably without having to go to the Wal-Mart in Greencastle. And, as the recent vintage t-shirt fad indicated, the clothing that I can pick up over at the local Goodwill isn’t too far out of fashion.

You might see me at many of the local bar-b-ques, meetings with food, and other special events which give me freebies. Say hi to me, and I can give you a much better detailing of the freeganist belief system. If you are feeling particularly nice, you can stop by my room and drop off those last few slices of pizza that you would normally throw away. Help your fellow student and be less wasteful in the process!