Don Young Takes UTA to Task for Cognitive Dissonance

Don Young of FWCanDO was a guest blogger at UTA where he took the UTA Board of Regents to task over their hypocrisy in forming a Sustainability Committee while allowing Barnett Shale drilling on campus.

Critic of urban gas well drilling takes university to task

When UTA regents decided to allow industrial gas drilling on campus they opened the door to well deserved criticism. For starters, how can a university with a philosophy to “go green” justify peddling in hydrocarbons? How can well educated men and women not recognize the direct role they are playing in misleading and confusing its neighbors, the general public and many UTA supporters? Why don’t they realize that by attempting to hammer a square peg into a round hole they lose hard won credibility? It appears they unwisely are attempting to have it both ways by melding two conflicting philosophies.

The very idea of a Sustainability Committee rings hollow in the face of UTA’s actions. Furthermore, the timing of the creation of the Sustainability Committee in October 2007 has the appearance of trying to cover up a bad deed with an ostensibly good one.

For example, the Mission Statement attests, “the University’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.” Any middle-schooler would be able to detect the direct conflict with such a statement and the production of dirty fossil fuel on campus. By trying to have it both ways, you disgrace yourselves, the university and insult the community at large. The public expects more from UTA.

Don is also sharing content with Pegasus News. Thank you, Don, for your voice in fighting the Barnett Shale polluters!