University Times

Immoral use of newsprint

To the editor:

It is with surprise that I read in the Nov. 11 issue that Pitt has received a “B-” in their green report card — surprise that it is so high when “D-” or “F” is better warranted! And why is that? Because the University continues to publish both an on-line edition of this instrument and a tree-killing-print edition!! At least Teaching Times had the decency to go all digital and stop the massacre on our planet!  When will the University  learn the same lesson with both the Times and the Pitt Chronicle?  Shame on you!  End the criminal and immoral use of newsprint!

Martin Rice

Associate Professor

Philosophy

Johnstown Campus

rice@pitt.edu

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N.J. Brown, editor of the University Times, replies:

The University Times staff is committed to serving the needs of all Pitt staff and faculty in as environmentally friendly a manner as possible.

Not every employee on Pitt’s five campuses has ready electronic access at work — and some may not have electronic access at home. According to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, 30 percent of U.S. households have no Internet access whatsoever. The hard-copy version of the University Times means that all University employees, with or without Internet access, have access to the University Times.

While the print edition continues, the University Times has taken a number of steps to make it as environmentally friendly as possible:

• Several years ago we established UTDirect, our electronic headline service, to inform subscribers when the most recent issue of the paper is available online.

• We monitor the returns of each issue at every drop-off point, reducing the numbers of paper copies where returns indicate that we can do so. Since we instituted UTDirect, we have been able to reduce our press run by 26 percent.

• All leftover copies are picked up and recycled.

• Paid advertising in the hard-copy version of the paper funds all printing costs as well as some other operational costs not covered by the University.

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Letters should be submitted at least one week prior to publication. Persons criticized in a letter will receive a copy of the letter so that they may prepare a response. If no response is received, the letter will be published alone.

Letters can be sent by e-mail to njbrown@pitt.edu or by campus mail to 308 Bellefield Hall.

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