Georgetown University has always had a deep and abiding concern for the environment … sort of. The Inter-Cultural Center, one of the country’s largest solar-powered buildings, has seen its solar array fall into a state of disrepair, rendering it all but useless. Now it stands as a shining, if not exactly functioning, example of our willingness to pay lip-service to ideals that sound nice but are hard to put into practice. Sound familiar, living wagers? But this week Georgetown’s Eco-Action committee has planned a full seven days of activities certain to demonstrate Georgetown’s deeply rooted commitment to the environment. A commitment much deeper than the roots of the flowers around campus that will be ripped out and returned the second the last pre-frosh is done touring, but one that lends the same sort of superficial refinement to our sense of self-righteousness that the flowers lend to the campus.
So how can you pretend to support the environment without actually forgoing any daily conveniences or changing your cushy lifestyle? Well, Earth Week has a number of easy, conscience-clearing events such as a discussion of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax,” Thomas Berry-the Kenny G of enviro-spiritual oatmeal pablum-and a trip to exotic Rock Creek Park. There will also be a vegan barbecue for those with a hankering for some Cajun-style cabbage, or just those who get a perverse thrill out of watching people vainly try to keep tofu from sliding through the slats in a grill. You know who you are. With all these amazing events one can only pray that other mind-blowing campus activities like Medieval Day won’t be left in the dust kicked up by the Eco-Action Committee’s granola-and-love-powered 1967 VW Westfalia.
But since Earth Week is only one week out of the year it’s important that members of the Georgetown community, both students and faculty, make a conscious, year-round effort to improve environmental awareness. Students should make a more concerted effort to limit their consumption of electricity and fossil fuels by starting fewer tire fires and using every part of the buffalo. The administration can also help by making a firm commitment to removing the spent uranium fuel cells that it stores under Healy Lawn, as they will be a danger to numerous sunbathers during their 250,000-year half-life.
So Georgetown, take care of our mother earth, because it’s the only one we’ve got. Until we colonize the moon. Then it’s game on.
