Penn State President Graham Spanier released a written statement Wednesday that outlined the university's goals to reduce pollution and pledged to do everything possible to reduce emissions.

The statement was in response to the 4,500 letters signed by students who want the university to make a stronger commitment to the environment that were delivered to Spanier's office Tuesday.

While it is great that Spanier responded to the group and the students it represents in such a quick manner, this statement does little to actually change the university's position on environmental matters.

But then again, what did we really expect? Did we expect the president to make a public announcement in which he thoroughly outlined initiatives the university will undertake to combat various environmental problems and genuinely seemed interested in such problems?

Although it's what we as students deserve, since we happen to be the heart of this institution, the university's antics throughout the semester have indicated that we certainly should not expect such courtesy.

After all, what kind of university do we think this is?

Evidently it's a university that seeks to control nearly every aspect of its student groups.

And it's a university that is content with releasing a measly 263 words confirming its lukewarm commitment to increasing sexual assault awareness.

And who could forget that it's a university that has released meaningless statements regarding sweatshop labor but still allows its apparel to be made in factories that employ poor labor practices.

Surely it's a university that, after determining women's basketball coach Rene Portland discriminated against former Lady Lion Jen Harris on the basis of race and perceived sexual orientation, decided to merely slap Portland on the wrist with a $10,000 than to terminate her employment.

And furthermore, it's a university that employs officials who refused to let members of a student group deliver a harmless letter to Spanier's office Wednesday voicing their opposition to the decision to keep Portland.

And now it's a university that releases a feel-good statement, which says it will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by double-digit figures by 2012 but outlines no plans as to how it will go about doing so.

Throughout the semester, Penn State students have been forced to accept a sub-par performance by their university's administration -- officials who lack any sense of accountability and transparency to their students.

But until students make it abundantly clear that they refuse to settle for such mediocrity, Spanier and company aren't likely to think twice about continuing this disgusting trend.