Resolution on Paper Usage at Cornell University

WHEREAS, Cornell is a large teaching and research university that encompasses a broad range of intellectual activity within and between a variety of disciplines, and

WHEREAS, Cornell’s own mission statement includes the following phrase: “We foster initiative, integrity, and excellence, in an environment of collegiality, civility, and responsible
stewardship,” and

WHEREAS, the Cornell community uses a significant amount of paper every year in the pursuit and administration of such intellectual activity, and

WHEREAS, such paper usage poses an unnecessary strain on the environment, and

WHEREAS, the technology producing 100% post-consumer recycled paper has undergone dramatic improvement in the last 5 years and has become a viable economic option, and

WHEREAS, CIT tests in Net-Print computer labs have shown no difference in the performance between 100% post-consumer recycled paper and copy paper products that are currently used,
and

WHEREAS, other universities have already adopted the use of 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and Cornell is in a unique position to lead the Ivy League in using 100% post-consumer
recycled paper;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate strongly urges Cornell’s departments, schools, libraries, administration and all other units to make the transition to 100%
post-consumer recycled paper a high priority for paper-copying needs and to focus on making the transition in an expedient and timely manner, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate urges Cornell’s administration to set a goal and timeline of exclusively using 100% post-consumer recycled paper for paper needs
(where possible) university-wide.

Respectfully Submitted,
Kate Whitlock and Tim Fahey