Editor:

We as Americans have many freedoms that many others in the world could only dream of. However, with this privilege come many responsibilities, one of which is protecting the environment. Because of this I was excited to hear that students were trying to get the university to purchase more wind power. However I was dismayed to read the opinion of The Chronicle on this matter in the Nov. 15 editorial “Wind Power? Not Right Now.”

Although I am not anxious to pay more in fees, I think we need to purchase more wind power and now is the time. The costs of wind power are a burden that students must accept. While I am a busy college student with limited financial resources, I am sure that I can find one extra dollar per semester to help keep our environment clean. When I do the math, I figure that to work out to be about one cent per day.

I am not talking about any drastic measures such as skipping meals or buying less ramen. One dollar could be saved by simply laying off the gas pedal a little bit. If that is too much, perhaps we could bend over and pick up the penny off the ground that we always walk by because we think it is not worth picking up.

I realize that the university is looking at a 10 percent increase in tuition in the near future. I believe that this is the unfair burden, not the one-cent per day increase to help protect our air quality. At least for this, we would be gaining something: cleaner air.

Clean renewable resources and wind power are our best choice at this time. I ask you, if not now, then when? If not us, then who?

Mark Lange

Graduate Student, Physical Therapy