Editorial : University Senate has yet to take green advice

On April 20, a graduate student stood up at the last University Senate meeting of the spring semester to suggest a way the governing body could cut down on paper waste. Each month, hundreds of USen members receive packets containing meeting minutes from the previous session and that meeting’s agenda and supplementary materials. The student suggested those who’d rather view the minutes electronically should be able to decline the printed packet to cut down on waste. The senate also discussed placing recycling bins at the entrances of Maxwell Auditorium for easy, green disposal.

The senate held its first meeting on Wednesday, and there was no apparent change in the methods for paper distribution or recollection. The agenda hadn’t been posted online before the meeting, although minutes from the April meeting were available. On April 21, The Daily Orange Editorial Board endorsed the suggestion to conserve paper and limit waste, and now it continues to urge senate leadership to implement this rather simple display of eco-friendliness.

An opt-in system for the monthly packets would be most effective. Senate members who feel more comfortable receiving a hardcopy in their mailboxes could opt-in. All others would receive an electronic version to their emails. Any supplementary materials could be handed out at meetings in hardcopy if the need arises.

At the very least, a collection box for the manila folders would save on buying hundreds of new folders for every meeting. The proposed change may seem insignificant. But if the university truly plans to move toward carbon neutrality and touts its efforts to support local green projects, then senate leadership should hardly see these as burdensome changes.