To the Editor:

Re: “Cornell Lacks Plan to Ban Bottled Water,” News, Feb. 16

Having graduated last year, I try from time to time to check what’s going on at Cornell. I was pleasantly surprised to see a mention of the elimination of bottled water at Wash U., where I just started law school. I’m glad to see that the idea is, if nothing else, creating discussion elsewhere. I’m not really a big environment person, but the amount of plastic we go through is a little ridiculous.

When I first heard about the policy change, I was a little annoyed, but it really hasn’t been that big of a deal. Assuming I remember, I bring a bottle with me and fill it up at the fountain. And if you forget, you can get a cup for a quarter.

On its face, the ban does seem a bit absurd. But small steps like this — especially when portrayed in a non-threatening light (as opposed to the doom and gloom of Al Gore) — when it seems that there’s no reason not to conserve resources, make a lot of sense.

Will Blashka ’08