2008 Woodie Awards
Time to better the environment on campus
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: Opinion
A new school year has begun and this signals another fresh start for all of us, including the university. Across the country, colleges and universities are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. Right now, more than any other time, SIUE has the potential to join in what has been called the sustainability revolution.
Sustainability is one of the key terms describing the modern environmental movement, and is most commonly defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This idea makes a lot of sense for our society, planet and university. It has been increasingly frustrating for many people to see the rapid destruction of our campus' forests, the lack of adequate recycling options on our campus, and the rampant problem of invasive species, to name but a few of the more pressing problems.
The apparent ignorance and apathy toward the environmental issues that are affecting our campus and region must end now. A new level of awareness and action is necessary for our campus and society to proceed into the future. This is not only a question of ethics, but it is also a question of pride and recognition. How many of us will feel proud to have graduated from SIUE if it keeps the status quo and remains indifferent toward what is shaping up to be some of the most essential problems facing the world to date?
New buildings will soon be popping up on our campus, giving us the chance to showcase some of our strengths. For example, the Environmental Science Department has been developing green roof technologies that should be incorporated into all new buildings on our campus for which it is deemed suitable. We have the opportunity to do this now. While many people are doing fascinating work for the environment on our campus, the administration has unfortunately been silent about its commitment to a sustainable future.
I am going to do all that I can to make changes for the better on this campus and I invite you all to do the same. Especially important are the incoming students who will benefit significantly from this prospect. The new student environmental group, Student Organization for Sustainability (SOS), has met with a number of faculty who are excited about the possibilities for change on our campus. To learn more about SOS please visit their Welcome Week booth or send an email to siuesos@gmail.com.
Kevin Rohling
Graduate Student
Guest Columnist
Sustainability is one of the key terms describing the modern environmental movement, and is most commonly defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This idea makes a lot of sense for our society, planet and university. It has been increasingly frustrating for many people to see the rapid destruction of our campus' forests, the lack of adequate recycling options on our campus, and the rampant problem of invasive species, to name but a few of the more pressing problems.
The apparent ignorance and apathy toward the environmental issues that are affecting our campus and region must end now. A new level of awareness and action is necessary for our campus and society to proceed into the future. This is not only a question of ethics, but it is also a question of pride and recognition. How many of us will feel proud to have graduated from SIUE if it keeps the status quo and remains indifferent toward what is shaping up to be some of the most essential problems facing the world to date?
New buildings will soon be popping up on our campus, giving us the chance to showcase some of our strengths. For example, the Environmental Science Department has been developing green roof technologies that should be incorporated into all new buildings on our campus for which it is deemed suitable. We have the opportunity to do this now. While many people are doing fascinating work for the environment on our campus, the administration has unfortunately been silent about its commitment to a sustainable future.
I am going to do all that I can to make changes for the better on this campus and I invite you all to do the same. Especially important are the incoming students who will benefit significantly from this prospect. The new student environmental group, Student Organization for Sustainability (SOS), has met with a number of faculty who are excited about the possibilities for change on our campus. To learn more about SOS please visit their Welcome Week booth or send an email to siuesos@gmail.com.
Kevin Rohling
Graduate Student
Guest Columnist
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Zack Ziaja
posted 8/28/07 @ 12:15 PM CST
Personally Kevin, I really don't think an employer in my future will care if my campus was sustainable or if they clear cut forests. What i would like to see is a student origination to stop robbing us on the meters, or how about the coalition for fewer geese, or maybe just a group that really wants to take a stand on how our student government accomplishes nothing but kicking out the members who didn't meet the requirements in the first place. (Continued…)
Post a Comment