Did you unplug all the appliances in your room before going on Spring Break?
Do you turn out all your lights and make sure your television is off before going to class?
Have you been disposing of recyclables in blue bins only without using garbage bags?
Unfortunately, the most prevalent answer to questions like these here at Fairfield happens to be “no,” usually followed by the reasoning that the school pays for it or that we won’t have to worry about the environment within our lifetime.
However, both of these explanations are faulty. Firstly, if there is a campus-wide effort to leave every light in every room on, this will affect the school’s budgeting. Although it might not be enough to raise tuition, the tiny effects of environmental apathy build up in a negative way that can lead to funding cuts to enjoyable programs.
More importantly, habits like these can have obvious global consequences. We can assume that society has come far enough to accept that global warming is a reality, as opposed to a myth created by activists in a ploy to destroy the economy. By being indifferent toward our own habits in regard to our planet, we contribute to this very real and imminent global danger.
The worst part is that we can already see tangible effects of this scientific phenomenon. Take this winter for instance – you can count the inches of snow that fell through the entire season on one hand. But like most problems in the world, we are faced with a catch-22: the one tangible effect of a very real problem is something that we all wanted anyway, which is the ability to wear a t-shirt in February.
But we at The Mirror expect more from our student body. Our school offers many ways in which we can be more a sustainable population, and we should take advantage of them. For example, our new combined recycling program is just one way to ensure a better future for our children.
And just like we on the editorial board love to do, criticize! Don’t be afraid to question what you think is bad for our environment. For example, we have energy dashboards that are projected on flat screen televisons left on all the time… who thought that was a good idea?
So although it might be warm today, think about tomorrow. What kind of world do you want your children to live in? Although they might have to throw on a coat in the winter, at least they will be around to enjoy summer when it comes… that is, if you do your part.
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