Professors to blame for costs of non eco-friendly printing

Editor,

As we all know by now, the IT labs are implementing a pay-to-print policy. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has been witness to students printing hundreds of pages at a time in the computer labs on campus. Someone has to pay for all that ink and paper. It was only a matter of time before those costs were passed directly to the student.

I have heard friends and classmates bemoan the few students who took advantage of printing privileges in the past, went a little print-happy, and ended the free ride for everyone. I must unfortunately admit that I am one of those spoilers. But what is a student to do?

I have taken many history classes, always with the expectation that the course will be heavy on the reading. My basic assumption was reinforced this semester when the required reading list for my history class consisted of five texts to be purchased. This I did willingly. What came as a surprise to me were the mountains of assignments online, also required reading, to be completed each week. One look at the syllabus and I knew my $10 printing allotment would not stretch far.

Sure, I could do all this reading at the computer. But what about during the discussion sections, an integral part of the class, in which it is prudent to have these reading assignments with me? Are professors encouraging every student to bring a personal laptop with them to class? How many hours a day should I have my face in a computer screen?

Like the rest of you, I am alarmed by the environmental repercussions of tearing through so much printer paper. But I am also concerned with my academic performance. I know that failing to print out these articles and essays, read them and bring them to class in order to engage myself in discussions will negatively affect my grade.

It’s not that I’m angry about having to do homework assignments, or even being required to pay for printing. What concerns me is the lack of regard professors show for students and the environment when creating lesson plans and choosing reading assignments.

I will gladly purchase the books necessary for my success in school and continue to print out the hundreds of pages per week of required reading for my classes. I can’t help but feel guilty about all the reams of paper I will use this semester that cannot be sold back to the bookstore for future students, and cringe at the amount of money I must continually convert into LoboCash in order to cover the expense.

And to those of you in the computer lab shooting me dirty looks for excessive printing: Take it up with my professor.

Lisa Ruby
UNM student