February 7, 2008
Using Student Fees to reduce UM's impact on the environment
Kaimin News Editor Emma Schmautz recently editorialized that investing student fees in our environment made education less affordable. I would argue that we must sustain our environment to keep education affordable & meaningful. As energy & other resources become more costly, then everything students must buy will become more costly – food, shelter, transportation and tuition. Investing in renewable energy will make all these more affordable as the price of nonrenewable energy rises.
Green Tags are not mere indulgences as Schmautz suggests. Green Tags represent real investment in renewable energy infrastructure. When our investments increase the amount of wind power in the electric power mix, then our future use of electricity will actually generate less greenhouse gases.
Schmautz also argued that UM’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gases won’t make any difference. No one individual, business or university can affect the climate – but all of us together have created the problem, and all of us together can make a difference. UM cannot sit back & wait for everyone else to reduce carbon emissions.
Thoreau asked “What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” UM students might ask “What is the use of an education when civilization is crumbling around you as resources become unaffordable and resource wars break out?”
UM students are learning and teaching others that we have a responsibility to act together to address global problems. I’m proud that UM students have the intelligence, vision, and heart to act now to address problems that have too long been ignored by leaders who are short-sighted and selfish. My students give me hope.
Vicki Watson, Professor of Environmental Studies
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