Spring Break
Poll gauges opinion of bottle initiative
by Katarina Corda
News | 10/7/08
Posted online at 2:18 AM EST on 10/7/08
In an effort to gauge student views on the University's initiative to reduce bottled water purchases, the Student Union and Students for Environmental Action conducted an online student survey starting last Friday and ending today asking students whether the University should reduce the sale and distribution of bottled water on campus.
The survey asked students, "Recognizing the social, environmental and economic implications of bottled water, should Brandeis University reduce the sale and distribution of bottled water on campus?" Student Union President Jason Gray '10 said that as of last night, over 1,000 students submitted a response, but he declined to comment further on how students voted.
Members of SEA created a Facebook event urging students to vote "yes" in the poll and included information about why they should do so, including the fact that "the production of bottled water uses over 1.5 million barrels of oil each year. Add to that the transportation costs and emissions, and you've got a lot of harmful toxic emissions contributing to pollution as well as global climate change."
As of last night, the Facebook event had over 200 members.
Students for Environmental Action President Matthew Schmidt '11 mentioned that although the survey results are not yet in, there is no intention to ban the sale of bottled water, only to reduce the amount of bottles purchased to a more reasonable number.
Talks of implementing a change to University policy on bottled water started late last semester when students brought their concerns to the administration. In May, University President Jehuda Reinharz announced a plan to implement a policy to ban the sale of bottled water on campus.
Gray said the survey is only one small component of a conglomeration of discussion and activity surrounding the issue of bottled water on campus.
Earlier this semester, each student had the opportunity to receive a reusable aluminum water bottle to help eliminate the need for bottled water on campus.
The designated water bottle committee, composed of five students, three faculty members and five staff members, is discussing all options and alternatives in resolving the environmental issues involved with supplying bottled water on campus.
The Cambridge-based nonprofit Sustainable Endowments Institute recently commended Brandeis environmental efforts with an Honorable Mention for the Champions of Sustainability in Communities Award. The University was also given a B- on the SEI Sustainability Report Card, up from a grade C given the year before. The categories of Administration and Student Involvement both received A's on Brandeis' report card.
Schmidt said he is "excited about how far we went from last year," in terms of the report card rating.
The survey asked students, "Recognizing the social, environmental and economic implications of bottled water, should Brandeis University reduce the sale and distribution of bottled water on campus?" Student Union President Jason Gray '10 said that as of last night, over 1,000 students submitted a response, but he declined to comment further on how students voted.
Members of SEA created a Facebook event urging students to vote "yes" in the poll and included information about why they should do so, including the fact that "the production of bottled water uses over 1.5 million barrels of oil each year. Add to that the transportation costs and emissions, and you've got a lot of harmful toxic emissions contributing to pollution as well as global climate change."
As of last night, the Facebook event had over 200 members.
Students for Environmental Action President Matthew Schmidt '11 mentioned that although the survey results are not yet in, there is no intention to ban the sale of bottled water, only to reduce the amount of bottles purchased to a more reasonable number.
Talks of implementing a change to University policy on bottled water started late last semester when students brought their concerns to the administration. In May, University President Jehuda Reinharz announced a plan to implement a policy to ban the sale of bottled water on campus.
Gray said the survey is only one small component of a conglomeration of discussion and activity surrounding the issue of bottled water on campus.
Earlier this semester, each student had the opportunity to receive a reusable aluminum water bottle to help eliminate the need for bottled water on campus.
The designated water bottle committee, composed of five students, three faculty members and five staff members, is discussing all options and alternatives in resolving the environmental issues involved with supplying bottled water on campus.
The Cambridge-based nonprofit Sustainable Endowments Institute recently commended Brandeis environmental efforts with an Honorable Mention for the Champions of Sustainability in Communities Award. The University was also given a B- on the SEI Sustainability Report Card, up from a grade C given the year before. The categories of Administration and Student Involvement both received A's on Brandeis' report card.
Schmidt said he is "excited about how far we went from last year," in terms of the report card rating.
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