Trash talk
\nStudent Council committee's plan to offer reusable coffee mugs should be a model for other sustainability initiativesTuesday night, Student Council's Environmental Sustainability Committee laid out several proposals for increasing the University community's sustainability and environmental awareness. Of the ideas put forth, the committee is specifically "trying to attack coffee cup waste," Co-Chair Michelle Henry said. Because the cups typically used on Grounds are not biodegradable, the committee has created a program in partnership with Greenberry's Coffee & Tea to give away mugs that can be used at various dining locations. The program went into effect yesterday.
This project appears to be a thoughtful example of how environmental sustainability programs should be implemented. Unlike University Dining Service's reusable to-go containers, the mug initiative is both user-friendly and incentivized - it plans to feature a punchcard system so that students can obtain one free coffee every eighth time they order from Greenberry's. Though the project's scope is less ambitious than the to-go program, it targets and should reduce one specific cause of waste in the University community.
The project's outcome remains to be seen, but the committee seems to have approached the sustainability issue realistically. Environmental awareness is a virtue in and of itself, but without appealing to students, efforts to promote sustainability will prove to be hopelessly ineffective. The first step to garnering community support is simply ease of use; a complicated program will not find a place in busy students' lives. The second step, whenever possible, should be to offer students an enticement to participate. Environmental goals are laudable, but most people respond better to tangible incentives than to vague ideas or general appeals.
When significant issues are at stake, like environmental sustainability, there is little room for plans that will not work. The coffee mug initiative takes student behavior into consideration. More organizations should take the committee's approach to heart.\n
Mum's the word
\nThe Managing Board opts not to take sides in the gubernatorial raceThis past Sunday, the Washington Post endorsed Creigh Deeds in the Virginia governor's race. Many newspapers across the commonwealth have made their preferences known in the past few weeks as well.
It is not uncommon for newspaper editorials to endorse candidates, and there are a number of reasons used to justify the practice. Most publications aspire to be active participants in their communities. They aim to improve governance and offer voters information that can be used in making tough decisions. Undoubtedly, part of the reason for contemporary endorsements is also simply tradition. The New York Times, for example, has backed presidential candidates since the 19th century. The Wall Street Journal, on the other hand, has not endorsed since 1928, when it implored readers "to vote for [Herbert] Hoover, as the soundest proposition for those with a financial stake in the country."
The Cavalier Daily has generally made it a point not to endorse candidates in non-University elections. The reasons for this position are mostly practical, not ideological. Above all, we simply feel it is not an especially productive endeavor. As a college newspaper, it seems a better use of our energy to address pressing University concerns. The time and space required to adequately address the breadth of issues impacting political races would detract from that fundamental mission. Furthermore, members of the University community have an array of already established ideological positions, and our endorsement seems unlikely to sway opinions on state and national issues. Our editorials will weigh in on specific issues in the election that are relevant to the University, but that can be done most prudently without choosing one candidate over another.
As a public institution, the University is often susceptible to the political tides in Richmond. So although we opted not to take sides in this year's gubernatorial race, we strongly encourage everyone to inform themselves about the candidates and vote. The issues at stake are more pressing than most students care to realize.
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