Bit by bit we are diminishing the earth’s natural resources and contributing to global warming. It is a consequence of the energy we use and products we consume coupled with global overpopulation and the implications of our Western lifestyle.

Fortunately, however, there are hotspots like Ithaca making strides toward sustainable living. There is the installation of solar panels downtown, the EcoVillage and the flux of shared transportation programs. On campus, there was the college’s commitment to the Talloires Declaration, a sustainable-housing program, a new sustainable School of Business, and organizations like the Sustainability Committee and Ithaca College Environmental Society, which promote compost programs, renewable energy and paper conservation, among other initiatives.

But it is not enough for sustainability to be implemented. Students must understand the purpose of these programs so they can practice them beyond their four years in college. The school has been working toward a core experience for all students to create a culture of informed Ithaca College students. As part of this, it should require classes on the college’s core values, including one on sustainability that would help prepare students to address global demands.