Georgetown students are well-informed and resourceful, and often uphold the University’s values of service, community, and global engagement. Environmentalism, however, is not one of the more widely discussed global issues on campus. Perhaps out of convenience, most students don’t see sustainability as especially important. Yet as Georgetown students, who typically place a high premium on international issues we must make the effort to prioritize environmentalism.
First, let’s be clear: Georgetown has made improvements in sustainability in recent years. Since 2006, the University has reduced emissions by 19.8 percent, replaced washing machines and dryers in residence halls with Energy Star models, launched a program to test-drive plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and introduced Capital Bikeshare locations near campus. As of 2009, construction at Georgetown meets LEED standards, which are voluntary standards established by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council. The University participates in Recyclemania, a nationwide competition to decrease consumption and increase recycling. This year we earned a solid B on our College Sustainability Report Card, which is funded by the Sustainable Endowments Institute and has the highest participation rate of any sustainablility report.
Student organizations have also led the way in promoting environmentalism. I am a part of EcoAction, Georgetown’s main environmental student group, which has organized a variety of initiatives this year, including a low-energy light bulb giveaway and recycling drive, sales of recycled and recyclable gift wrap during the holidays, park clean-ups, movie screenings, and events during Eco-Week and Earth Hour. The Corp Green Initiative has introduced energy-efficient appliances and sustainable coffee to Corp locations, and composts coffee grounds with the Georgetown Garden Club. Another group, the Georgetown Conservation Corps, promotes environmental education in D.C., and the Center for the Environment offers academic opportunities for environmentally minded students.
However, it’s undeniable that Georgetown lags behind other colleges in environmental activism. Over 100 schools, including the entire Ivy League, outscored Georgetown on their Sustainability Report Cards. Middlebury will be carbon-neutral by 2016, Yale’s president has called for his school to be the greenest in the country, and Brown spends 20 percent of its food budget on local products.
Meanwhile, Georgetown environmental clubs tend to have woefully small memberships. If students are not active with environmentalism, there is no hope that the administration will be. Furthermore, many of us are guilty of unsustainable choices in our daily lives. We use disposable coffee cups at Corp locations, buy water bottles from vending machines, and take plastic bags at the bookstore. Without widespread student involvement, neither administrative nor club efforts can make Georgetown a more environmentally friendly school.
I don’t believe that Georgetown students are actively against or apathetic about environmental issues. Rather, these issues seem less compelling to us than our other concerns. The benefits of reduced energy usage are not as tangible as, for example, a stack of dollar bills raised for a charity. Studying for exams has clearer results than saving a few cents when you remember your reusable bag. If you’re late for your internship on the Hill, you may not want to take public transportation. And when you’re buying a Red Eye at Uncommon Grounds to survive an all-nighter, remembering your reusable travel mug isn’t a top priority.
But notwithstanding these constraints on our time and energy, we are capable of improving sustainability at Georgetown. We can take simple actions that will also save us time and money. Bringing a travel mug will get you a 25 cent discount at Corp locations, and ten cents off at Starbucks. Buying a reusable water bottle to save money on disposable plastic bottles, carrying reusable bags to avoid the D.C. five-cent bag tax, and printing double-sided at Lauinger can all make a difference (after you click print, click properties and eco-print.)
There’s also no reason why we can’t recycle, now that the campus boasts so many blue recycling stations and solar-powered trash compactors. If you use a disposable coffee cup, recycle it. Don’t throw away Solo cups or yogurt containers or pizza boxes—they can all be recycled too. Old cell phones can be dropped outside Vittles or in the Harbin garage. Old clothes can be donated at a green drop box by Village A, Leavey, or the tennis courts.
If students want to take the next step, they can get involved with one of the environmental groups listed above. Students can give as much time to these groups as they want, and involvement can dovetail with existing commitments and interests. Writers can contribute to EcoAction’s blog, aspiring teachers can promote environmental education with the GCC, and those interested in the scientific aspects of environmentalism can attend seminars and lectures with the CFE. It is our responsibility to make our campus as sustainable as possible, and no matter how overcommitted we are, there are ways to incorporate environmentalism into our life and work at Georgetown.
