2008 Woodie Awards
Printing waste shows inefficiency, budget shortages for technology
The Editorial Board
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Opinions
Currently, thousands of sheets of wastepaper are strung from the ceiling in the foyer of the James E. Walker Library. To make a point about paper usage, the Student Art Alliance collaborated with the library to hang the paper that would normally be recycled.
"Reduce" is the name of the project, and it's a clever idea. It makes a statement without words, highlighting not only the waste of trees, but the waste of money involved in the production and purchase of paper.
The library has tried to cut down on paper usage by setting the default on computers to double-sided printing, and while paper waste is down, it sometimes inadvertently creates waste of its own.
When a student prints off an English paper and it emerges double-sided, it often has to be reprinted, since many professors will not accept papers printed this way. This solution may be remedied by making use of the new online learning system, Desire2Learn, or d2l.
Using d2l, it is possible to submit assignments in a digital drop-box in practically any format. Professors may place comments and grades on the assignment, with nary a sheet of printed paper.
Of course, not all paper waste is due to finicky professors. With finals approaching, it is tempting to use the library's ostensibly free printing to make copies of a semester's worth of notes. This, too, is something that may be done more efficiently by the use of computers. If a professor is nice enough to post their notes online, one may study them at home, on a computer. It is likely that most students simply toss those stacks of notes after their exams, further contributing to the waste glut.
There is certainly an egregious amount of waste involved in 'free' printing, and we could all probably be more efficient. However, the amount of money budgeted for printing is also questionable. With a total of $75,000 for printing, and approximately 23,000 students, each student should be allotted roughly $3.26 for a year's worth of printing.
This miniscule amount is supposed to cover the cost of paper, toner, maintenance and workers to staff the labs. It hardly seems sufficient.
Any abundant resource is subject to overuse, until either the supply becomes short or the users voluntarily curtail their usage. The solution to this problem will require a little of both.
"Reduce" is the name of the project, and it's a clever idea. It makes a statement without words, highlighting not only the waste of trees, but the waste of money involved in the production and purchase of paper.
The library has tried to cut down on paper usage by setting the default on computers to double-sided printing, and while paper waste is down, it sometimes inadvertently creates waste of its own.
When a student prints off an English paper and it emerges double-sided, it often has to be reprinted, since many professors will not accept papers printed this way. This solution may be remedied by making use of the new online learning system, Desire2Learn, or d2l.
Using d2l, it is possible to submit assignments in a digital drop-box in practically any format. Professors may place comments and grades on the assignment, with nary a sheet of printed paper.
Of course, not all paper waste is due to finicky professors. With finals approaching, it is tempting to use the library's ostensibly free printing to make copies of a semester's worth of notes. This, too, is something that may be done more efficiently by the use of computers. If a professor is nice enough to post their notes online, one may study them at home, on a computer. It is likely that most students simply toss those stacks of notes after their exams, further contributing to the waste glut.
There is certainly an egregious amount of waste involved in 'free' printing, and we could all probably be more efficient. However, the amount of money budgeted for printing is also questionable. With a total of $75,000 for printing, and approximately 23,000 students, each student should be allotted roughly $3.26 for a year's worth of printing.
This miniscule amount is supposed to cover the cost of paper, toner, maintenance and workers to staff the labs. It hardly seems sufficient.
Any abundant resource is subject to overuse, until either the supply becomes short or the users voluntarily curtail their usage. The solution to this problem will require a little of both.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Matthew
posted 11/29/07 @ 9:20 AM CST
I was a college several years ago that had a decent solution to this problem. Each student had to log into a computer to use it in public areas like the library. (Continued…)
William Miller
posted 11/29/07 @ 12:50 PM CST
I will have paid $6,666 in in-state graduate tuition for the right to earn a masters degree. I will pay considerably more next year after the next percentage bump. (Continued…)
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