2008 Woodie Awards
A certain shade of green
High prices of green products don't stop students from pursuing a green lifestyle
Jessica Tuttle
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Lifestyle
The cost of going green startles many students by first impression and can be discouraging.
Environmentally friendly items and organic food products often cost more.
President Katie Kallie of Students Allied for a Green Earth (SAGE) thought going green is definitely affordable.
"Think about it," Kallie said. "When you're wasting resources, you're wasting money."
However, with the costly idea in mind, consciousness of the environment has been overwhelming for many students.
Associate Professor Bruce Eshelman said in the long run, going green is less expensive, but thought there were bigger problems than cost for students.
"As I see it, there are three big problems," Eshelman said. "First, there's feeling like you won't be able to make a difference. Then, there's apathy and procrastination, followed by the misconceptions about how it's not really a problem."
Eshelman used data to help students become more aware of the problem.
"The stuff that I give students isn't speculation," Eshelman said. "I give students the numbers, and I let them come to their own conclusions."
President Karen Drydyk of Peace, Education and Activism through Creative Engagement, (PEACE), thought peace is key in making a change.
"In my opinion, peace in this world is necessary in order to improve our environmental woes," Drydyk said. "We must realize that all individuals, all species, are in direct relation to one another. One's actions affecting others'"
SAGE Vice President Tony Dobnar thinks going green is the responsible thing to do.
"The Earth is our home, and we're all responsible for taking care of it," Dobnar said.
Our use of resources is going sky high, Eshelman said, and people in the U.S. are the biggest offenders. Global warming awareness is on the rise, and our resources are limited.
"People are fighting over oil now, wait until people start fighting over water," Eshelman said. "It is a serious problem, and it's only going to get worse unless we start changing things now."
Environmentally friendly items and organic food products often cost more.
President Katie Kallie of Students Allied for a Green Earth (SAGE) thought going green is definitely affordable.
"Think about it," Kallie said. "When you're wasting resources, you're wasting money."
However, with the costly idea in mind, consciousness of the environment has been overwhelming for many students.
Associate Professor Bruce Eshelman said in the long run, going green is less expensive, but thought there were bigger problems than cost for students.
"As I see it, there are three big problems," Eshelman said. "First, there's feeling like you won't be able to make a difference. Then, there's apathy and procrastination, followed by the misconceptions about how it's not really a problem."
Eshelman used data to help students become more aware of the problem.
"The stuff that I give students isn't speculation," Eshelman said. "I give students the numbers, and I let them come to their own conclusions."
President Karen Drydyk of Peace, Education and Activism through Creative Engagement, (PEACE), thought peace is key in making a change.
"In my opinion, peace in this world is necessary in order to improve our environmental woes," Drydyk said. "We must realize that all individuals, all species, are in direct relation to one another. One's actions affecting others'"
SAGE Vice President Tony Dobnar thinks going green is the responsible thing to do.
"The Earth is our home, and we're all responsible for taking care of it," Dobnar said.
Our use of resources is going sky high, Eshelman said, and people in the U.S. are the biggest offenders. Global warming awareness is on the rise, and our resources are limited.
"People are fighting over oil now, wait until people start fighting over water," Eshelman said. "It is a serious problem, and it's only going to get worse unless we start changing things now."
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