Student Essays, Opinions & Other Insights on a Sustainable UMD 2013-2014 Academic Year | Page 13

Matthew Chin
Major: Electrical Engineering
Class of 2017
I decided to partake in the “What Will (YOU)md Do?
Sustainability Pledge” because I felt that I could
contribute to this movement both as an individual and as
a group member. I believe in the concept that everyone
can make a difference, no matter how small, and that if
those efforts to make differences come together for the
same cause, the ending result can be powerful.
As for me personally, I grew up in a very sustainableoriented neighborhood. Everything from old newspapers
to soup can labels, from milk jugs to soda bottles, was
recycled in our house and many efforts in the secondary
school I attended were for eco-friendly intentions. Every
time I had to dispose of something, I considered whether
or not it could be recycled. The concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle” has, for as long as I can
remember, been a part of who I am and will continue to be something that I uphold.
One thing that I believe that UMD could do to become more sustainable is to make typed
assignments due via ELMS or via email. Society is becoming increasingly digital day by day and paper
is becoming decreasingly used. Paper is constructed from trees, which are a valuable and wonderfully
beautiful natural resource for both the atmosphere because they produce oxygen for humans to
breathe and provide habitats for animals such as squirrels.
Another thing UMD could consider other than making typed assignments due online instead of in
class, is simply changing the font requirement of said assignments. Garamond is a font very similar
to Times New Roman, but uses about 24% less ink. A sixth-grader made this known to his middle
school and his middle school was able to reduce ink costs up to $21,000 per year. Making this change
at UMD would reduce the amount of ink used by a whole lot and save both students and faculty
money by not having to buy new ink cartridges nearly as frequently. One last thing to notice: this
entire essay is written in Garamond font.

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