As I sat in my room on the night of March 29, I marveled at the throngs of students trekking to their cars for a night out. While I opt to not drink alcohol, I certainly understand why many students choose to.
My concern stems from the fact that students seem more concerned about boozing than anything else. The bustling Thirsty-Thursday roadways are evidence of that.
Not that the students preoccupied with getting inebriated knew, but Saturday night from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. was Earth Hour around the world. Sacrificing technology for a short hour doesn't seem like much to ask.
Most at UB didn't comply with the global effort. Instead, it seems that my peers were more concerned with getting to Main or Chippewa.
I'm fairly sure that students' environmental indifference is inspired by their all-inclusive apathy. Evidence comes from dwindling club attendance and minimal Student Association election bids.
To be blunt, I couldn't care less. Where is it said that students must be leaders? Granted, that creates a vacuum of leadership for the rest of us to deal with.
I can cope as long as we can still fill posts with competent people, and so far we haven't had an issue. If anything, when caring people have more responsibility, efficiency will improve.
But when we're dealing with indifference on the environmental end, which seems to be the case based on my Earth Hour observations, I fear for the worst.
"Hey, we're students. What can we do on a limited budget?"
Well, that limited budget seems to include a lot of extras: booze, concert tickets, booze, drugs, booze, pizza, video games and booze.
Then there are those that aren't worried about our future.
"You could cut down all the trees and I wouldn't care."
The university seems to be included in the environmentally lethargic crowd.
Using The Spectrum office as an example, our "recycling" bins are disregarded as everything ends up in the same trash bag. It doesn't matter if it's paper, plastic or a leaking battery - it all goes to the same place.
Is this the case with the entire university? Are those three separate bins (paper, bottles, trash) only for show?
Students are just as much to blame when it comes to violation of those clearly-labeled bins. Did you know that cans go in the can bin? How long does it actually take to read the label on the bin and throw away your trash accordingly?
I'm not asking for the impossible. Walk a little farther, use a little less.
It'd be nice for UB to splurge and spend millions on new solar panels and windmills, but we have to start small and build to greater heights.
Earth Hour is in the past, and people got their jollies at the bars. But next time you're heading out for recreational purposes, think about the broader effect of your actions.
This is our world. Let's use it how we should.
