There's been a whole bunch of propaganda going around uni from ANU Green (ANU's sustainability department) about how we should help to reduce the costs to ANU. Most of this is about 'reducing our use' in terms of paper, water and electricity usage. One example on one of their pamphlets was that we should consider storing documents electronically, as opposed to printing them out.
My first problem with this argument is; as students, we're forced to purchase textbooks. We don't have the option to purchase an electronic copy of these books (or certainly not the ones related to the courses I'm enrolled in). But I guess the ANU doesn't care about this, seeing as it doesn't cost them anything if students purchase textbooks from a book shop not even run by the university.
My second problem is; the university doesn't even provide students with paper on which to print. We're forced to bring out own. Sure, student unions etc have pledged to provide paper in printers, but I haven't yet seen anything come of this. Were I to have excessive printing habits, the only cost to the university would be in toner cartridge replacement.
And my third (and yes, final) problem is - What's in it for me? The university costs me. Not just financially, but it taxes my mental wellbeing. If the university were a workplace, covered by workplace agreements, its patrons would be on strike almost every day. Most lecturers tell us that we're expected to put in 12 hours of work per course. A standard university diet is four courses. That's 48-hours per course. Most workplace agreements agree that even a 40-hour week is overly excessive, and has a negative effect on an individual's social and mental wellbeing.
When the ANU decides to impact upon my lifestyle less, I'd be more than happy to help them to reduce their costs. Until then, it's going to remain a hate-hate relationship.