Sustainability beyond the environment

By Editorial

Throughout our president's inaugural ceremonies last week, we noticed Michael Engh, S.J., taking a recurring pledge not only to be present to students, ensure an exceptional education and reemphasize Jesuit traditions, but more precisely, to make Santa Clara a leader in sustainability.

We have all heard by now of the great things the Solar Decathlon team has done and continues to do. We have endured Bon Appetit's ever-changing eco-friendly container options. And we've seen Green Club members sifting through trash, picking out recyclables.

But few students, it seems, know the full extent of sustainability.

Sustainability is defined as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs," according to the Office of Sustainability.

This is not purely an environmental issue. Sustainability is about prolonging the life of our planet and is innately a Jesuit ideal. It is promoting social justice and human rights. It is teaching others and lending a hand so they can support themselves. It is providing everyone with sufficient health care and nutritious diets. It is supporting diversity, encouraging civic engagement and ethical decision-making and ensuring economic viability and social equity for all.

Sustainability also requires doing all of this so that everyone can prosper and build with each other, not over each other. It is about taking a long-term, communal approach to global problems.

Former President Paul Locatelli, S.J., began the era of sustainability at Santa Clara in 2004. He "devoted the university to sustainability through stewardship, education and outreach," in the Sustainability Policy, according to a February 2009 report from the Office of Sustainability. In 2007, Locatelli signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, vowing to strive for climate neutrality. This was also the first year a Campus Sustainability Assessment was completed. This fall, the Office of Sustainability was formally established.

Kennedy Commons was opened in 2006 as a demonstration of sustainable design. The new library is twice the size of the old one, but uses about the same amount of energy.

Santa Clara is in Kaplan's Top 25 Environmentally Responsible Colleges and tied for second in Princeton Review's Green Ratings in California.

There's no doubt that Santa Clara is leading the sustainability movement as these endeavors continue to expand and multiply. We trust the new president will only further their support and success.

We hope to keep in mind the full meaning of sustainability through these initiatives. Go beyond constructing energy-efficient buildings and buying local produce to create a culture of sustainability on campus.

Make long-term problem-solving a norm. Incorporate the community into all decisions. Get students, staff and faculty involved in cultivating a more sustainable campus and world. Our generation can make a difference and work toward unifying, rather than destroying our world.

So turn off the lights when you leave a room, eat less beef, go to a cultural performance, invest in microloans and always consider how your actions will impact your children's and grandchildren's lives.