2008 Woodie Awards
Students should do their part to "go green"
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Rocket Letters
To the Editor:
Two weeks ago, 13 students from Slippery Rock University attended Powershift 07. It was the first national youth summit on climate change.
It was held on the University of Maryland campus in Washington. It was there that roughly 6,000 students learned how to be proactive on their campuses in regards to effecting change. Youth learned this not only from nationally recognized activists like Ralph Nader and Bill McKibben but also from other students from all across the country who were agents of change on their own campuses and showed it could be done.
It opened our minds to new and exciting ways on how to change SRU for the better. There are several ideas that are now being researched and will hopefully be addressed in the Spring 2008.
There are issues that can be addressed right now by students on campus. A student mentioned in the Nov. 16 issue of The Rocket that "It's not that students don't want to help, but we really don't know how."
The first step would be telling the administration of your school what you want. For instance, there is an American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment that has not been signed by any President in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. This of course includes Dr. Smith of our beloved Slippery Rock University. It is simply a commitment by presidents of colleges and universities to make their campuses completely carbon-neutral. Who else will show leadership on this issue if not for American educational institutions?
There is a push in Congress to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. You should write your Congress men and women and tell them that the future is yours and you want them to support this effort or you will not vote for them in 2008.
Another action students can take would be Slippery Rock University recycles, but what about the surrounding buildings that are filled with university students? Does your building recycle? I do believe it is a free service in Slippery Rock. You pay rent, tell whoever supervises your building you want recycling made available. The Green Bike program is something to be proud of on campus. However, bikes are in constant need of repair. I know a lot of students know how to fix a bike, or could learn easily if they wanted.
Volunteer a couple hours a week, month, whatever and get some more bikes out there for use. Or simply don't abuse them when you do ride them.
Samuel L. Piel
Senior
Environmental Studies
Two weeks ago, 13 students from Slippery Rock University attended Powershift 07. It was the first national youth summit on climate change.
It was held on the University of Maryland campus in Washington. It was there that roughly 6,000 students learned how to be proactive on their campuses in regards to effecting change. Youth learned this not only from nationally recognized activists like Ralph Nader and Bill McKibben but also from other students from all across the country who were agents of change on their own campuses and showed it could be done.
It opened our minds to new and exciting ways on how to change SRU for the better. There are several ideas that are now being researched and will hopefully be addressed in the Spring 2008.
There are issues that can be addressed right now by students on campus. A student mentioned in the Nov. 16 issue of The Rocket that "It's not that students don't want to help, but we really don't know how."
The first step would be telling the administration of your school what you want. For instance, there is an American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment that has not been signed by any President in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. This of course includes Dr. Smith of our beloved Slippery Rock University. It is simply a commitment by presidents of colleges and universities to make their campuses completely carbon-neutral. Who else will show leadership on this issue if not for American educational institutions?
There is a push in Congress to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. You should write your Congress men and women and tell them that the future is yours and you want them to support this effort or you will not vote for them in 2008.
Another action students can take would be Slippery Rock University recycles, but what about the surrounding buildings that are filled with university students? Does your building recycle? I do believe it is a free service in Slippery Rock. You pay rent, tell whoever supervises your building you want recycling made available. The Green Bike program is something to be proud of on campus. However, bikes are in constant need of repair. I know a lot of students know how to fix a bike, or could learn easily if they wanted.
Volunteer a couple hours a week, month, whatever and get some more bikes out there for use. Or simply don't abuse them when you do ride them.
Samuel L. Piel
Senior
Environmental Studies
