Ed Board is naming the Environmental Committee its No. 3 SMU Person of the Year.

The Environmental Committee is no longer in existence, but its work is still more than visible.

Thanks to the committee, recycling is now a priority on campus. By now you hopefully know what it has accomplished. If not, here’s the list:

– They instituted recycling on The Boulevard for football tailgating.

– Leaders of the committee helped SMU win an award from MTV’s Break the Addiction Challenge.

– Committee members helped SMU become part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership.

Texas is not necessarily known for its environmentally friendly ways, but a few SMU students are trying to do what they can to change that perception here on campus.

The last two chairs, Joseph Grinnell and Christine Dougherty, have been extremely passionate and have paved the way for future Mustangs to participate in green efforts.

Unfortunately, the Student Senate dissolved the Environmental Committee in late January and lumped it into the Student Issues Committee.

The environment will be a topic of concern – some of the time. This is disappointing and unacceptable.

A snide and disrespectful letter published in the Mustang Post last week by four student senators told Laura Miller in not-so-polite terms that she knew nothing about student politics.

Really? A longtime reporter and a mayor of Dallas has no insight into the political process? Huh.

“The Environmental Committee has overshadowed all other environmental groups at SMU,” according to the letter. So did senate kill the committee because it was too productive?

This makes no sense.

There’s no good reason for senate to dismantle a productive committee and reduce it to a student issue.

If other committees aren’t as strong as you’d like them to be, build them up. And don’t do it at the expense of a successful one.

To all involved in the Environmental Committee : We offer our condolences and thank you for all you have accomplished.

To whoever is privileged enough to hold the position of environmental vice chair of the Student Issues Committee next year: Please keep up the good work. Ed Board supports your cause and appreciates the many contributions already made to our beautiful campus.