MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University President Blaine Brownell is among 42 leaders of U.S. colleges and universities urging the White House to rethink its energy initiative.

Brownell co-signed a letter initiated by John DiBiaggio, president of Tufts University and an environmental leader among educators. The letter was sent to President George W. Bush May 31, a week after the administration unveiled a new energy plan.

The plan calls for a new focus on energy production and a review or modification of federal restrictions that stand in the way of oil and gas leasing across the country.

Citing the need for a comprehensive and long-term view of energy, the presidents called for making energy conservation a higher priority. The group also expressed their concern for America's excessive over-reliance on fossil fuels and the nation's reluctance to embrace and develop energy-saving technology.

"Ball State joins other universities and colleges in offering our assistance to meet America's energy needs," Brownell said. "We have the intellectual resources at our disposal to help develop innovative energy supply technologies as well as craft new conservation-based policies for using fossil fuels.

"Energy and environmental conservation has been a cornerstone for Ball State for many years," he said. "Our faculty are working on various projects that may be instrumental in helping meet our nation's energy needs in the coming years."

Brownell cited the university's Greening of the Campus initiative as an example of how faculty, staff and students can make a difference in energy conservation.

"Greening of the Campus 4: Moving to the Mainstream," scheduled for Sept. 20-22, is a conference that explores campus environmental strategies, practices and solutions through paper presentations, workshops, roundtable discussions, poster sessions and renowned keynoters. Ball State's first three Greening of the Campus conferences each attracted some 200 participants from colleges and universities around the United States and other countries.

The presidents also indicated national security is put at risk because the United States is so dependent on unstable regions of the world that provide more than half its energy supplies.

The university and college presidents concluded their letter to Bush by requesting a transformation to a truly innovative energy policy.

Brownell is one of two college leaders in Indiana to sign the letter. The other is Connie Bauer, vice president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, located near Terre Haute.

Other presidents include Nan Keohane, Duke University; David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology; Diana Chapman Walsh, Wellesley College; and Joan Leitzel, University of New Hampshire.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Brownell at bbrownell@bsu.edu.)