Student Assembly

Dear Vincent

Thank you for forwarding Resolution 35 entitled ‘Take Back the Tap.” I appreciate the recommendations contained in this resolution that speak to our continuing efforts toward becoming an ever more sustainable campus.

The issues involved in making drinkable water available to our large and dispersed campus are indeed complex. In addition to the sustainability issues that are obvious, there are infrastructure, financial, and educational issues involved. The Student Assembly is right to call for a thorough conversation on this topic and the development of a long-term plan regarding bottled water. Therefore, I wish to suggest the following.

While I know that the President’s Sustainable Campus Committee has discussed the particular resolution and has given me some of its thinking about the particular items suggested, I will ask that group, together with the leadership in Cornell Dining to work with the Dining and Environmental Committees of the Student Assembly and appropriate student groups to develop an action plan to address the issue. As that plan is developed, cost considerations must be addressed, especially those that speak to any infrastructure or capital expenditure.

We will, as a community, advance our educational efforts about the environmental impact of bottled water and the identification of alternatives available. There are many avenues being used now for such education, but I ask the PSCC and Dining and University Communications to develop a comprehensive plan and approach.

Before any steps are taken regarding infrastructure, a detailed plan needs to be created through Facilities Services and reviewed and approved by the Capital Planning Group and also the Capital Financing and Priorities Group.

We currently have almost a half a million bottles of water sold on campus each year. We need to provide critical information to those consumers, make alternatives (including refillable bottles and mugs) available, and be sure that our recycling program remains robust. I like your suggestion that we find ways to track our progress in the reduction of consumption of bottle water on campus.

Thank you, again, for raising this issue. While I believe some of the recommendations contained in your resolution are ambitious, and perhaps beyond what we can immediately achieve, I agree it is important that we begin to move in a different direction.

Best Regards,

David Skorton