Recycling on campus
I am writing this piece in response to an article last year about the ongoing effort in making the AU community greener with the addition of bio-diesel and electric vehicles and other environmentally-friendly procedures. Though I applaud those efforts, I was wondering why such emphasis has been placed on the most advanced of technologies when the simplest of methods has been almost completely ignored - recycling.
It is a little disappointing to walk through the various buildings on our campus and peek in wastebaskets, only to find 100 percent recyclable material in the trash.
At first, I immediately place the blame on my fellow colleagues in the AU community who ignore the threat of environmental degradation and refuse to put forth even an iota of effort to seek out one of the many recycling receptacles throughout our campus. The thought of an educated college student lazily throwing away dozens of bottles of their favorite soft drink each week is enough to make me insane. I find this act to be shameful, and I call on all of my colleagues to think about what little effort it takes to become more mindful of the environment and to become more responsible global citizens.
I know I am a bit of a nut when it comes to recycling, but I don't think a little more effort would hurt anyone on this campus. I feel there should be a recycling week where students are taught a new tip each day to help decrease their consumption.
AU also needs a better recycling program with color-coordinated recycling bins that distinguish between recyclables and waste.
Together, the AU community can ease our footprint on the environment. Individual effort is crucial as we battle global warming, and the "little things," like recycling, pay huge dividends in the future.
I challenge all of my fellow colleagues to make a concerted effort to avoid the lazy way out and look for a recycling bin when tossing away your recyclables. With the proper leadership, you won't have to carry around those empty bottles all day, and the simple task of recycling on campus will not be so difficult.
Joseph Sidari
Graduate student in the School of International Service and the Kogod School of Business
Speaker does not impress
As an incoming freshman to this university, I am largely unfamiliar with the way things work around here. However, I do not feel it is premature to object to something I find grossly inappropriate, something I just can't blow off.
Alongside several hundred other freshmen, I sat through a book discussion (at least, that's what they told us it was supposed to be) with Mike Tidwell, author of the required reading, "The Ponds of Kalambayi."
Personally, I enjoyed the book. As an advocate for many African and World Aid causes, including the ONE Campaign and STAND, I was interested in hearing what Tidwell had to say.
Instead, I heard about global warming, how we need to leave Iraq, how the Middle East hates us, why the United States "is the problem nation" and why our country has "many, many, many flaws."
Regardless of whether or not I or anyone else agrees with him, his wholly irrelevant and blatantly unpatriotic rhetoric was out of place.
Mr. Tidwell, who conveniently had clipboards available after his diatribe to gather signatures for his political movement, deceitfully exploited this forum to advance his agenda, and that is truly despicable. I don't care who it is or what they are talking about; if it is not relevant to the forum at hand, it does not belong there. It is irresponsible for the university to allow this to happen.
To give a specific rebuke to his characterization of this country being the "problem nation" to places like Kalambayi, I would ask Mr. Tidwell and everyone else who would sympathize with his radicalism to imagine an Africa, or a world, without the humanitarian aid of the United States.
Mr. Tidwell asserted our government "doesn't give a damn" - I suppose that is why United States aid to Africa, the most contributed by any country, tripled since 2000.
Anyone with any sense of reality will realize that the only "problem" and "flaw" we really have to be concerned about are institutions of higher education facilitating the campaign of ignorance and anti-Americanism embodied within "speakers" like Mr. Tidwell, especially in front of an unsuspecting audience.
Nick Troiano
Freshman in the School of
Public Affairs
