Energy budget is in the furnace

By Jeff Trull

UMass Dartmouth is facing a massive budget overrun on energy throughout the campus. On January 29, 2008, David Ferguson, the director of facilities, sent out a campus-wide e-mail announcing that “Energy costs for the campus are projected to be $800,000 more than budgeted for the current fiscal year.” No, you didn’t read that wrong (like I did at first).

The e-mail also explains that a large portion of the extra costs are attributed to fuel oil price increases and extended air conditioning use in the fall. With a lot of money to make up for in the coming months, the school has launched an “Energy Conservation” project that aims to cut down on energy usage throughout campus. While some of the proposed energy cutbacks are surefire, others are far from it.

The magnitude of the cost overrun for energy on campus is somewhat of a surprise, but I am not very surprised that there is an overage in the first place. I would first point to unnecessary energy usage within the dorms. As noted in the e-mail, there are constantly windows open in dorms and other buildings on a daily basis. However, I can personally attest to uncomfortable levels of heat in some of the dorms.

For instance, when I lived in Chestnut Hall freshman year, I had my window open almost constantly due to the excessive heat being pumped into my room. There were no controls to regulate temperature in these rooms, so what choice did I have? Even living in the Woodland Commons this year I find that the dorms can be hot even with the heating controls turned off.

While I typically haven’t opened my windows in Ivy Hall this winter, I have noticed a lot of people keep theirs open. It is still difficult to regulate temperature in these rooms since there is only one control per two apartment rooms in the four person suites throughout the Woodlands. Thus if one roommate likes a steamy room and the other doesn’t, the only way to resolve this issue is to crack a window.

This past fall, the opposite problem occurred. I was sweating during the week or two that air conditioning was broken for Aspen and Ivy halls in September. But, as the e-mail notes, the air conditioning was “left on-line well into October.” This is a mystery to me. As I remember, I had turned off the air conditioning in my room for several weeks before the entire system was shut down. Sure, some days were hot but most days were bearable with just windows. In fact, I was often annoyed that cold air was still on because the air conditioning unit located outside my dorm was noisy and distracting. I remember breathing a sigh of relief when the air conditioning was finally turned off.

As far as other energy concerns, students are typically not very worried with leaving lights or computers turned on. I have noticed dorm rooms with lights on and nobody home. Also, there are plenty of people who leave their computers on 24/7 simply because they can. Students don’t worry about turning off lights and computers because they don’t directly pay for their energy usage. Whether or not I keep my laptop on or shut it off at night, I’m still going to pay the same amount to the school and just as much as my dorm mates.

With the announcement, several proposals have been made to combat this energy crisis. “Major mechanical equipment” is now shut down in buildings that are unused on weekends. Occupancy sensors are also being installed into all public restrooms on campus. Both of these solutions seem viable to start reducing energy.

The plan also includes participation by students, faculty, and staff. This includes keeping thermostats down, windows shut, and computers and lights turned off when not in use. While these are all great ways to cut down on energy consumption, I highly doubt that students will change their habits. Most students will probably not bother to notify their Resident Assistants if they are too hot, as suggested, and will keep windows open instead. Simply put, there is almost no incentive for students to change their habits.

While Mr. Ferguson asserts, “the more we spend on utilities the less we have for making building improvements and supporting academic programs,” this means very little to students. Some energy-conscious students may be more mindful of their energy consumption, but most will not make any changes.

As explained earlier, we pay the same amount in tuition and fees regardless of how much energy we use. While fees for students may increase in the long run due to increased energy costs, there is no immediate and direct cost associated with higher fuel and electricity consumption.

The only hope I see in making any real change is by both promoting smarter energy consumption on campus and offering an incentive to do so. First of all, I doubt many students have read the e-mail from Mr. Ferguson. While the e-mail doesn’t specifically mention any plans, this issue needs to be brought to the attention of everyone if anything is going to be done about it. Posters or flyers in dorms are at least a start. Perhaps an event geared towards raising awareness of the issue could take it a step further.

Also, giving something back to students if there is effort made to make a change may make otherwise disinterested students pay attention. What about offering iPods, gift certificates, or other prizes to students who can come up with the best ways to decrease energy consumption on campus? Giveaways have been done for naming the COIN system or Vice Chancellor Kim’s “S.I.G.H.” hour, and those contests didn’t even benefit the school financially! If we’re talking about saving several thousand dollars on energy costs, it’s certainly worth a shot at splashing down a couple hundred bucks on some Best Buy gift cards.

In the long-term, UMass Dartmouth should look into sustainable energy to reduce use of fuel oil. Let’s face it, fuel costs will only rise from here on out. At the same time, sustainable energy is global warming friendly. I know that there has already been investigation into placing a wind turbine on campus, and that this is a lengthy process. Also, the short-term costs of projects such as these are high, with costs often in the millions. But long-term benefits can be substantial, and other campuses have already moved forward in doing so. Nearby Massachusetts Maritime Academy already has a wind turbine, so a project such as this is definitely not out of the question.

With the impending energy costs, serious action must be taken if there is any hope at reducing this $800,000 projection. If the entire campus cooperates, a difference can be made. But changes dependent on students are not going to come easily and will certainly not come without effort.

Super Tuesday eliminates top two conservatives

By Greg Gravelle

Supporters turn out at a Barack Obama rally as the Illinois senator continues to battle with Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination.

While Super Tuesday may have surprised many voters, I contend that nothing about the crucial election day was unforeseeable.

There were a number of major conclusions to the primaries and caucuses held on Super Tuesday. First, Mitt Romney was effectively eliminated from the race. Second, the Republican base proved it was willing to overlook John McCain’s shaky past with regards to some tax cuts and social issues. Finally, only one conclusion can be drawn concerning the Democrats: the race between Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton will be brought down to the wire, as the two have pulled indistinguishably close in both the polls and delegate count.

The least surprising result of Super Tuesday was the elimination of Mitt Romney as a candidate for president. I have been vocal about my objection to Romney’s candidacy, as he has been inconsistent and employed several dirty political tactics in his bid for the White House.

Mitt Romney could hold one of the most heated debates in modern political history — with himself from 1994. It is apparent that voters did not recognize Romney as the true conservative in the race, as Romney placed third to Mike Huckabee and John McCain in a number of states with a large conservative base.

Easily the most significant Super Tuesday results for any candidate were enjoyed by John McCain. Voters made clear on Tuesday that they were willing to reject calls from Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee for fresh faces in Washington.

While John McCain is the epitome of a Washington insider, he still managed a landslide victory over his rivals. McCain’s success comes as a disappointment to me personally, as voters seemed to overlook the true conservative still remaining in the race: Mike Huckabee.

Mike Huckabee was recognized in the most traditionally conservative states, winning the majority of southern states with large conservative bases. While Mitt Romney may have been correct in his assertion that Huckabee took votes away from him, it is also likely true that many potential Romney supporters swung in Huckabee’s direction due to his authenticity — something Romney lacks.

While it is highly unlikely that Huckabee will make a comeback and win the nomination, his performance on Tuesday clearly distinguished him as the true conservative in the race.

It is near impossible to gauge who will walk away with the Democratic nomination. There is no front-runner, as Barrack Obama has gradually leveled in the polls and delegate count with the former first lady. While it brings great trepidation for me to envision Hillary Clinton occupying the oval office, I fear that super delegates may put her ahead at the Democratic National Convention.

The only potentially good result that may come of Clinton clinching the nomination is that she would likely be beat in a landslide by the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain.

While I do not have much to be excited about following Super Tuesday, I can take some relief in Mitt Romney’s presidential aspirations being squashed. I realize that I may be unrealistic in my continued support for Mike Huckabee. However, I still contend that he is the only true conservative left in the race, and that he is the only candidate left who will take the country in the right direction as President.

POLITICAL CARTOON

Don’t count Romney out just yet

By Ben Comeau

Mitt Romney is not done with this presidential race. Do not read the headlines. Do not believe the news ticker. Specifically, Mitt only “suspended” his presidential bid. What does this mean, you ask? Simply, Mitt is a slippery snake who knows politics well.

By only “suspending” his campaign, Mitt can keep the delegates he has won all the way to the Republican Convention in Minneapolis this coming September. This means Mitt can throw his delegates to whatever candidate he likes, thus boosting their credibility.

It seems clear that Romney will throw his weight to Senator John McCain, the inevitable choice for Republican nominee. However, Mitt has avoided directly endorsing McCain — most likely because the two have fired many exchanges over who is the true conservative (which is hilarious, considering McCain actually votes by his principles, which is something the GOP hasn’t done since Lincoln).

Now Mitt is poised to use his delegates for leverage. Potentially Mitt could grab a position in McCain’s administration or maybe just some goodwill from fellow Republican delegates. Either way, Romney realizes dragging the race out will tarnish his statuesque face, and he’d rather look like a team-player/martyr — probably so he can run again in four years.

Also, don’t think this wasn’t calculated. Romney announced his withdrawal at the Conservative Political Action Conference, in between the gasps of old white men and crying housewives. To be fair, John McCain has probably decided to use Mitt as much as Mitt will try to use him. Romney’s pseudo-endorsement and delegate-whoring might give McCain something to brag about to traditional conservatives.

I wouldn’t rule out a possible VP or even cabinet position for good ol’ Mitt. The former Massachusetts governor has convinced conservatives (albeit through excessive lying and word play) he is the heir apparent to Ronald Reagan.

Although it is almost impossible, if one could look past his epic facade, Mitt does have conservative credentials. He is a hawk, no bones about that. Also, for better or worse, he did a good job balancing the budget in the Commonwealth, refusing to sign expensive projects, raise taxes or dip into the state’s rainy-day fund.

Mitt Romney is young, energetic and has enough botox in his face to raise the Titanic. His political career is far from over, especially if he can play the rest of the Republicans for fools at the Convention. The former governor is not dead yet. He’s got a plan to stay afloat.

SOUL SIGHTINGS

Jesus is not a joke

Last Wednesday most Christians observed Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. Some received ashes on their forehead as a reminder of their mortality and the need to change their life as a preparation for the most important feast in the Christian calendar six weeks later, the feast of Easter. The feast of Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, commonly known as the first day of spring. Easter is the high point of the Christian calendar when Christians all over the world celebrate the risen Christ. However, as with any big event there needs to be a time of getting ready and that is the purpose of lent, a time to get ready.

The three Gospel practices are recommended for Lent prayer, fasting and alms giving. Prayer is more than saying some pious words. It is spending time developing an attitude attentive to the Divine Presence in our life. To do this, an attitude of interior silence is cultivated. The noise of the day and all the mental conversations are quieted so a listening ear is developed. Usually fasting is equated with giving up food and that is one kind of fasting. However, fasting is larger than just giving up peas, which you don’t like anyway. Such things as gossip, backbiting, TV, anger, complaining, judging others, resentment, jealousy, worry, feeling sorry for yourself are all attitudes and actions to add to the fasting list. Finally, there is alms giving. When alms giving is mentioned, giving money is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But, like fasting, there are other ways of giving. Giving time, listening to someone in need, and volunteering are examples of others ways of giving alms.

The purpose of the practices of Lent is not to make us miserable for six weeks. In fact, if we find we are miserable, then we miss the whole point of Lent. Lent is the time when the Christian can stand back, look at his or her life and ask the questions “where am I going in life? Do I really want to go there? What kind of a person am I becoming? Is it the kind of person I want to be?” In addition, Lent also helps us experience how much our life is influenced by outside forces, such as the media, commercials, and peer pressure. Of course the list is much longer. As an example of the influence of these forces, think of life without a cell phone or iPod for six weeks.

Finally, Lent is the time to consider our mortality. Even though we all go through a period of believing, will we live forever? No, we won’t. And as we face our mortality, will we have regrets or will we able to say we were faithful?

Sr. Madeleine Tacy, OP
Catholic Campus Ministry