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No laughing matter
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| Photo by Adam
Riggio Adam Cormier is a business student with a social conscience. |
Did you hear the one about the business student who started
a society for corporate responsibility? Adam Cormier has performed his
own comedy routine at open mike nights around the city and even braved
the discerning crowd at Yuk Yuks Comedy Club in Ottawa. But it’s
definitely not all play and no work for Mr. Cormier. Despite a penchant
for stand-up comedy, he wants people to know that his commitment to building
a better world is no laughing matter.
Set to graduate in May with a joint B.Comm. (co-op)/BA (English) degree,
Mr. Cormier’s semester is shaping up to be his busiest one yet. In
January, he attended a Youth Environmental Network Capacity Building Retreat
in Ontario. He’s a member of Responsible Consumers of Newfoundland
and he is part of the group that planned a protest at City Hall as part
of St. John’s Campaign Against the War.
Last fall he started a business society called People Before Profits.
The group’s mandate was to provide alternative information to business
students and other interested participants about ethics, morals, and social
responsibility. Recently, Mr. Cormier dissolved People Before Profits
and joined forces with a student society at Dalhousie University known
as Society for Corporate, Environmental and Social Responsibility (CESR).
CESR serves as a forum for dialogue and action and embraces issues including
sustainable development, social justice, peace, ethics, and good governance.
With only one meeting under his belt, Mr. Cormier is pleased with the
level of interest in the group so far. “CESR is open to anyone interested
in social responsibility and we currently have a mix of business, philosophy
and environmental science students.” Mr. Cormier is planning a number
of activities to promote the society and to promote change.
He is exploring the idea of offering an alternative graduation ceremony
to students in May. In addition to the official university convocation,
Mr. Cormier is interested in organizing a ceremony where graduates pledge
their commitment to social responsibility and society. “It’s
not a cult thing and people who pledge don’t have to go live in the
woods or anything,” he said. “The ceremony would involve pledging
a commitment to caring about people and society.” Similar ceremonies
have been conducted at other campuses across the country.
After he graduates officially, Mr. Cormier plans to spend the summer traveling
across the country and meeting with other like-minded people. “Eventually
I want to return to Newfoundland and Labrador and set up my own business.”
“Money is a tool,” he said. “I have no interest in accumulating
any more money than I truly need. Businesses have the ability to do a
lot of good in society and I want to own a business that is committed
to the environment.”
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