With "global Warming", I'm Surprised The Legislature

the real grad88 · March 3, 2007

I don't think I have ever seen this topic on here. Please noone hijack this thread...it's not about whether global warming is man made or not...I want to talk about conference alignment related to this issue.

The point is: I am surprised that there hasn't been any efforts from all levels of govt...federal to state to local...to try and pressure colleges to align themselves regionally, so as to reduce travel as much as possible. It's not just a global warming issue, it's also an energy-dependency issue. For all of the talk among many politicians about it, you would think that concrete steps would be suggested...such as this one. How much money and energy is waisted on crossing the country in jets and buses when perfectly good opponents are in the same region? Pro sports are different, they are privately owned. But most colleges are publically financed. I just think it really is a big issue to have school like SMU playing in the Northeast and North Texas playing in Florida, when it could all be avoided with common sense. Let each region's schools get together and make it happen. Legislative action is the only thing that is going to make such needed changes. It's the only thing that will make people lay their egos down.

Edited March 3, 2007 by the real grad88

MeanGreenBuzz · March 3, 2007

90% of the time the flights we get on to travel somewhere were already scheduled to fly anyway and we just fill them up. I don't think aligning schools regionally for travel will help global warming. Also, we already have too much govt. intervention in our lives/freedoms we don't need them to tell us what conference we have to be in because of the smog a jet produces.

the real grad88 · March 3, 2007

I don't think I have ever seen this topic on here. Please noone hijack this thread...it's not about whether global warming is man made or not...I want to talk about conference alignment related to this issue.
The point is: I am surprised that there hasn't been any efforts from all levels of govt...federal to state to local...to try and pressure colleges to align themselves regionally, so as to reduce travel as much as possible. It's not just a global warming issue, it's also an energy-dependency issue. For all of the talk among many politicians about it, you would think that concrete steps would be suggested...such as this one. How much money and energy is waisted on crossing the country in jets and buses when perfectly good opponents are in the same region? Pro sports are different, they are privately owned. But most colleges are publically financed. I just think it really is a big issue to have school like SMU playing in the Northeast and North Texas playing in Florida, when it could all be avoided with common sense. Let each region's schools get together and make it happen. Legislative action is the only thing that is going to make such needed changes. It's the only thing that will make people lay their egos down.

I'll reply to my own thread! :rolleyes:

I wish someone with the time would calculate the money and energy savings with regional conferences. Then maybe we could start a legislative lobbying campaign! It's just one small step, but bigger than most people think. With all of the athletic teams in a given school (not just football) making trips across country, it adds up in a hurry...especially multiplied across all colleges in the nation. We're probably talking about hundreds of millions of dollars of waist.

It's like the idea that I heard one politician talk about...requiring all towns of 25,000 and above to have bike lanes along all major boulevards in order to encourage people to ride bikes instead of drive...lots and lots of small steps turn into BIG results. Why can't common sense rule?

MeanGreenBuzz · March 3, 2007

I'll reply to my own thread!
I wish someone with the time would calculate the money and energy savings with regional conferences. Then maybe we could start a legislative lobbying campaign! It's just one small step, but bigger than most people think. With all of the athletic teams in a given school (not just football) making trips across country, it adds up in a hurry...especially multiplied across all colleges in the nation. We're probably talking about hundreds of millions of dollars of waist.
It's like the idea that I heard one politician talk about...requiring all towns of 25,000 and above to have bike lanes along all major boulevards in order to encourage people to ride bikes instead of drive...lots and lots of small steps turn into BIG results. Why can't common sense rule?

It can. I just don't like the idea of the government legislating common sense.

the real grad88 · March 3, 2007

90% of the time the flights we get on to travel somewhere were already scheduled to fly anyway and we just fill them up. I don't think aligning schools regionally for travel will help global warming. Also, we already have too much govt. intervention in our lives/freedoms we don't need them to tell us what conference we have to be in because of the smog a jet produces.

Well I am ready for govt intervention if it is the only thing that is going to make common sense changes. I'll use the junior college I work for as an example. Paris Junior College doesn't try to play a community college in california! The junior colleges have gotten together for the sake of saving money and have formed tightly-knit regional conferences. It's works very well.

There is not a good reason on earth that universities should not be required to do the same thing.

the real grad88 · March 3, 2007

"It can. I just don't like the idea of the government legislating common sense."

No...I'm afraid that common sense NEVER rules when EGO is involved. Pride always comes before a fall. We are all losing because of pride.

MeanGreen61 · March 3, 2007

I've got a headache

GoMeanGreen1999 · March 4, 2007

I am with Craig Miller on this "global warming" issue. Doesn't exist.

the real grad88 · March 4, 2007

I am with Craig Miller on this "global warming" issue. Doesn't exist.

I'll tell you what does exist...much inflated gas prices caused by maximum demand because of overconsumption and waist by a soon-to-be-second rate nation who once was mighty. Why? Because we would not take the littlest of steps to make needed changes to lessen dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. Many small steps add up to big steps. Same priniciple as counting your pennies, eh? Have I hyjacked my own thread?

SilverEagle · March 4, 2007

I am with Craig Miller on this "global warming" issue. Doesn't exist.

Well, considering that Craig Miller thinks that his own Alma Mater doesn't exsist (sports wise), I'll have to give that opinion the consideration that it deserves.........none! <_<

UNTflyer · March 4, 2007

We could take a big step in reducing dependence on foreign oil...

...drill ANWR like a porn star.

eulesseagle · March 4, 2007

UNTFlyer-

Dude, you can not be serious!!! :angry:

Seriously, sometimes I lay awake and worry about all the carbon emmissions in the atmosphere from gas vehicles and coal fired generating plants in the United States and China!!

Three years ago I cut off TXU as a provider because, and I mean because, I installed three solar panels on the roof of my home on my beautiful one acre homesite. About nine months ago I completed rigging up five decorative electric generating windmills so that I have no need for commercial electricity. I generate enough through "natural methods" that I actually have sold enough back to the electric company that in six years I will be able to pay my mortgage off.

I point to a study that I read, about six-months ago, from MIT concerning the environment. Surprisingly the months of August through January are one of the worst for the destruction of the ozone. I only mention this because emissions from coal and gas from High School, College and Professional football tailgating parties ranks as the #7 destroyer of the environment behind coal producing plants and vehicular emmissions (cars, SUV's, busses, trains, aircraft and boats).

In Gore's award winning documentary "THE TRUTH" if we as a university do not do anything in our lives other than convice other college groups to STOP tailgating we can "REDUCE" these carbon emmissions, from tailgating, another 10%.....taken from the MIT study. This may be enough to keep enough ice caps melting and help reduce the increasingly hotter climate which is now responsible for all the tornadoes and ice storms in the upper midwest along with the destruction of our planet.

The alternative is "SOLENT GREEN."