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Reinharz plans to ban bottled water
by Jillian Wagner
News | 5/20/08
Posted online at 6:58 AM EST on 5/20/08
University President Jehuda Reinharz, Aramark and Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins are working to implement a policy to ban the sale of bottled water on campus, according to an e-mail to the Justice from Reinharz on May 19.
Reinharz wrote: "This process began as a result of several meetings I had with students who raised the issue as one of large scale campus concern. I feel a responsibility to take this issue seriously and to set an example on our campus."
He explained: "A decision like this involves many people on campus and will take a while to implement because we wish to consider alternatives to bottled water carefully. So far, student reaction to the action has been very positive."
"I object to selling water in containers that pollute our environment on our campus. Presently I am exploring ways to substitute other more earth-friendly ways to provide students access to clean, healthy water on our campus that does not involve non-biodegradable containers," Reinharz wrote.
"I am very pleased to see the high level of concern and interest in the environment that is taking place in many important and quantifiable ways on this campus," Reinharz added.
"This is a huge step for Brandeis," Danielle Hollenbeck-Pringle '10, the campus outreach coordinator for Students for Environmental Action wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.
"What students can do now to become involved to improve the situation is to not go to Hannaford's or Costco or anywhere else to buy bottled water. Our tap water here in Waltham is great water. We should use it instead of using water from Vermont, India, or Georgia," she wrote.
SEA Vice President Sarah Levy '11 said that while the policy has not officially been declared, the ban will only include water and not soda or juice containers.
To help raise awareness about the water crisis around the world, Reinharz insisted on screening a documentary called Flow: For Love of Water on campus. Flow follows the stories of villages and communities in 12 countries fighting for clean water.
Reinharz wrote: "This process began as a result of several meetings I had with students who raised the issue as one of large scale campus concern. I feel a responsibility to take this issue seriously and to set an example on our campus."
He explained: "A decision like this involves many people on campus and will take a while to implement because we wish to consider alternatives to bottled water carefully. So far, student reaction to the action has been very positive."
"I object to selling water in containers that pollute our environment on our campus. Presently I am exploring ways to substitute other more earth-friendly ways to provide students access to clean, healthy water on our campus that does not involve non-biodegradable containers," Reinharz wrote.
"I am very pleased to see the high level of concern and interest in the environment that is taking place in many important and quantifiable ways on this campus," Reinharz added.
"This is a huge step for Brandeis," Danielle Hollenbeck-Pringle '10, the campus outreach coordinator for Students for Environmental Action wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.
"What students can do now to become involved to improve the situation is to not go to Hannaford's or Costco or anywhere else to buy bottled water. Our tap water here in Waltham is great water. We should use it instead of using water from Vermont, India, or Georgia," she wrote.
SEA Vice President Sarah Levy '11 said that while the policy has not officially been declared, the ban will only include water and not soda or juice containers.
To help raise awareness about the water crisis around the world, Reinharz insisted on screening a documentary called Flow: For Love of Water on campus. Flow follows the stories of villages and communities in 12 countries fighting for clean water.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Mary
posted 5/21/08 @ 2:45 PM EST
Just wanted to note that it is not the water in containers that is polluting the environment, it is the people who don't recycle the containers that are responsible for polluting the environment. (Continued…)
Dani B
posted 5/21/08 @ 7:16 PM EST
It's also a matter of wasted energy and resources transporting bottled water all around the country when you have pure drinking water just by turning on your sink. (Continued…)
Bekah
posted 5/24/08 @ 12:24 AM EST
This is a good start, but a more effective response to unnecessary consumption would be to redesign the meal plan options. A student who has been forced to buy a $2,200+ meal plan may have little financial incentive to drink tap water. (Continued…)
Dan
posted 5/24/08 @ 7:43 PM EST
This would not be so bad if the water on campus was not so terrible. The water from the water fountains tastes (at best) like chlorine. If the school wants people to buy less bottled water than they should make the alternative more appealing. (Continued…)
Gideon Klionsky
posted 5/25/08 @ 3:36 AM EST
Dan, the water tastes fine. The alternative is unappealing--a reduced-quality product sold in an unreasonable container for an absurd price--which is why this ban makes a lot of sense. (Continued…)
Emily
posted 6/23/08 @ 9:05 PM EST
I'm all for being environmentally-friendly but in dorms that lack kitchens and have gross bathrooms, I don't always have the inclination (or time, for that matter) to keep washing and refilling my water bottle. (Continued…)
Alina
posted 6/29/08 @ 6:19 AM EST
I am ALL for recycling bottles or not using plastic bottles at all. But as an alum, I definitely remember how BAD the tap water on campus tasted. I wouldn't drink it even if I was offered cash. (Continued…)
Diana
posted 7/13/08 @ 9:11 AM EST
You are so wrong about bottled water it is much cleaner and safer or you should just drink from your toilet it is the same water that comes from the municiple supply. (Continued…)
Alumnus
posted 8/03/08 @ 9:54 PM EST
Whatever the merits of this plastic water bottle issue, don't you students have anything better to do with your $1,200.00 a week time at Brandeis? And I think you could let President Reinharz use his time for something more important. (Continued…)
John
posted 8/26/08 @ 10:10 AM EST
Yeah, I mean, no offense, but you're not exactly saving the world by not having bottled water on campus. Seems like just another thing where the people behind this are doing it to be supposed "activists". (Continued…)
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