Kicking off an all-day Earth Day celebration, to end the campus Earth Week celebration, Cosumnes River College welcomed university professor, activist, foodie and award-winning author Michael Pollan as the keynote speaker on April 24.

Pollan was the first speaker in the CRC Foundation’s Distinguished Speakers series, sponsored by the OneBook program, the CRC Foundation and the campus Sustainability Committee. Pollan’s book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” was one of many topics discussed in the moderated event.

Communications Professor Georgine Hodgkinson introduced Pollan and moderated the lively discussion in the Recital Hall. On the stage there were two armchairs, an area rug, an end table with a plant upon it and a plant standing alone alongside Pollan’s chair that set the informal yet still formal mood for the series.

Topics ranged from farming, sustainable eating, the decline of cooking in America, hunting, big industry farming, tracking and even feeding the hungry. Those that were unable to get into the packed Recital Hall were turned to the Black Box theater which was the designated first overflow area.

Pollan’s discussion was simulcast to the Black Box theater as well as the second overflow area in the Library Forum, a stand-in for the Winn Center Community Room which was originally the second overflow area until a broken projector led to a change. The speech was also broadcast to any computer on campus.

“It really is a privilege to welcome Michael Pollan and all of you here today,” said CRC President Deborah Travis. “As we explore, debate and gain greater knowledge and understanding about sustainability, food, water and good health in celebration of Earth Day.”

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