Despite numerous efforts over the past few years to “go green,” TCU’s grades were still barely passing by the College Sustainability Report Card’s standards up until this year. The new grades, released at the end of October, put the university at a B- for 2011, up a full letter grade from the C- it received in 2010.

What finally made the difference? Aside from the millions of dollars spent on LEED gold&-certified buildings, the greatest change came from student involvement. The report bases its findings on several standards, including administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling, green building, student involvement, and endowment transparency.

Last year, TCU earned a D for student involvement, but this year, it received an A. It’s nice to see that the university’s efforts are finally being matched by the students’. Even the small efforts, like signing the “live green” petition, mean a lot when it comes to showing that students care.

Keith Whitworth’s sustainability classes fill the pages of the Daily Skiff with their projects, such as the “Tour de Frogs”, involving students and faculty working together on initiatives that make a real difference.

Student involvement is a big part of having a green campus. Without it, the rating is just a competition to see who can throw more money at mindless, trendy building projects.

News editor Andrea Drusch for the editorial board.