Boston College has recently taken large steps to make our institution an environmentally friendly one. Ecopledge has done a fantastic job working to improve the University's Sustainability Report Card (which, in 2007, was marred by two failing grades and a mediocre overall showing). Deirdre Manning was promoted to director of sustainability and energy management. The trustees are being pressured to outline specific environmental impact objectives to include in the Master Plan.
All of this shows a marked increase in the environmental responsibility BC is taking in making us an elite university. Last Thursday was BC's first glimpse of spring. It was a beautiful day and provided everyone with the opportunity to enjoy the environment we have been fighting so hard to preserve.
Walking through the Dustbowl that night I was reminded that the upper echelons here can only do so much to effect this change though. Trash cans were overflowing, bottles and cups were strewn about the area, and paper waste fluttered in the trees. You would never know there had been hundreds of responsible BC students relaxing here hours earlier.
For our University to set the standard in environmental accountability, the student body must set its own positive example.
Daniel McGillivray
A&S '09
Misstatement on the cost of war shows we must be informed
Even after the delay, I enjoyed Spike Lee's insights on his career, U.S. politics, and the exciting times in which we live.
I was, however, upset by one misguided statement made by an audience member, echoed by Mr. Lee, and quoted in The Heights. The acceptance of said statement, that the war in Iraq has already cost the United States $8 trillion, was not only grossly incorrect, but it also went against Mr. Lee's message of being informed.
To be clear, the war in Iraq has cost approximately $500 billion thus far, and economists estimate that it could cost up to $3 trillion in its entirety. With this, I'm not looking to harp on the mistake made by Mr. Lee and the unknown audience member, but to expose the travesty of modern campaigning, where elections are centered more on image and less on the facts.
As college students who could very well swing the election, it is our duty to examine the issues and pick the candidate who best mirrors our beliefs. If we, as young voters, fail to do this, we will be dismissed as shouting, uninformed masses that multiply the current cost of the war by 16.
Will Bartlett
CSOM '10
2008 Woodie Awards
