Dear Reporter,
Thanks for highlighting this year’s common book, Deep Economy, in your opening issue. In addition to providing some excellent (and controversial) discussion points, you helped to highlight some of RIT’s greening activities of the past year. For those of us involved in these efforts, communication has been the greatest barrier to progress. So here are some additional items linked to Deep Economy that are available to the RIT community.

1. Bill McKibben’s visit to RIT on November 6, 2008. Bill will meet with students for a Q&A from 3-4 in the Golisano Auditorium, followed by a talk in the Gordon Field House at 8:00. Free and open to the public, so spread the word!

2. A panel of RIT Faculty and Local Experts discuss Deep Economy links to RIT and the Rochester area from 2-4 on October 22, 2008 (Golisano Auditorium).

3. The 08/09 Summer Reading Program website, which currently includes a reading guide, several exercises for faculty, and links to additional books based on chapter topics. Got an idea you want to share? Contributions are always welcome (especially from interested students!) And coming soon will be a list of field trips to local sites with links to topics from the book.

4. A Brown Bag lunch series (12-1) at the Idea Factory, set up to bring together faculty and students to discuss topics f rom the book. The first discussion is scheduled for Sept. 12, led by Paulette Swar tfager (CLA) who will overview a Low Carbon Diet competition, followed by Jeffery Wagoner (CLA) on October 17, discussing environmental economics. Additional speakers will be scheduled throughout the year, so keep checking back!

On behalf of the RIT Summer Reading Implementation Team, thanks again for helping RIT become a greener campus and promoting environmental literacy.

Dr. Karl Korfmacher
Associate Professor
Environmental Science Program Director

Margaret B. Bartlett
Manager of Information & Education Services
RIT Libraries

Dear Reporter,
Your report on the new parking regs around here suggests that they’re unpopular among resident students. I think it’s a pretty good idea, myself. It needs a bit of work, but it’s a good start. I can’t see why any able-bodied individual would take issue with the general idea. Commuters need those spaces more than you do. I once tried driving to class from my Perkins apartment, and by the time I drove over, found a place to park, and walked from H lot to Engineering, I probably had used up as much time as I would have just walking. I definitely used three times the time it takes me to ride my bike to class.

So suck it up people, go outside and walk for a change. You’ll save some gas, and maybe lose a few pounds in the process. You might get more sympathy from me when it starts snowing in October, but I’ll still be out there, braving the “out of doors.” There may be some issues for those with large projects to haul around, but surely that can be addressed with temporary exceptions?

Alan Olson
4th year
Electrical Engineering student