Letters to the Editor: Feb. 11, 2010

Dorm cleaning and sustainability remain a priority

The column “Smart sacrifices” (Monday, Feb. 8, 2010) was based, in part, on some inaccurate conclusions about janitorial staffing levels and the costs of sustainability efforts when compared to the cost of addressing heat levels in some buildings.

First, while it is true that the University now employs fewer janitors than it did prior to the recent recession, no janitorial staff were laid off to achieve this staff reduction. The reductions came through attrition (retirements, staff leaving for other jobs, etc.) and the Voluntary Incentivized Retirement Program.

But it’s worth noting that there has been no reduction in resources devoted to dorm cleaning. We regret the lack of toiletries in Buyers Hall, but this was not in any way connected to the recent budget cuts, and our staff will address the problem.

The difficult choices about budget cuts recently made by the University administration were carefully considered with the goal of minimizing any negative impacts on our community and were carried out in a way that respected the importance and dignity of our employees.

On the sustainability issue, we are very aware of areas of the campus that are overheated. Unfortunately it often requires a huge capital investment to correct this situation in older buildings, but it’s not our intention to let this deter us from our efforts in other areas. The University’s commitment to sustainability is long-standing and grows out of recognition of the necessity to be responsible stewards of our resources and the environment. The vast majority of our capital investment in sustainability will benefit both the environment and the University’s finances. Our goal over the next several years is to reduce on-campus energy consumption by 25 percent, saving an estimated $8.5 million a year at today’s energy prices.

We continue to welcome direct feedback on our practices from students, faculty and staff so that we can provide pertinent information or reconsider our approach. We have accomplished much but still have more to do. More information about the sustainability program, including a report on progress toward our goals, can be found by visiting princeton.edu/sustainability, and students are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to the meetings of the Princeton Sustainability Committee.

If there is a problem with basic services in campus residence halls, we encourage affected students to call (609) 258-8000 for assistance.