The provost's office at Duke University has a back-to-the-future thing going on.

Provost Peter Lange, inspired by a recent discussion with musician Jackson Browne, has ordered bottled water use in his office to cease.

Instead, a return to the good old days of water coolers and paper cups. Remember those days? Ahh, nostalgia. 

_{(photo courtesy Duke University)}

Lange met Browne, a 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, recently when the rocker was on campus. Lange was swayed by Browne's interest in sustainable living, deciding then to rid the Allen Building's second-floor administrative offices of bottled water.

“We had a staff meeting the Monday after their visit and I told everyone we’re going to get rid of plastic bottles and exclusively use a cooler and paper cups,” Lange said in this story from the Duke website. “There are a lot of things you know you should do but never get around to it, so I figured why not start now?”

 And they'll save some cash, as well. The bottled-water elimination is expected to save about $1,700, according to the same Duke website story.

This is quite a week for iconic 1970s-vintage rock-star dudes at Duke University's Page Auditorium. First came an unannounced Bruce Springsteen star turn on Thursday night, when he did a one-song cameo with Rosanne Cash. And on Saturday afternoon, Jackson Browne will be at Page to receive the second annual Duke LEAF Award for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts.

The Browne ceremony happens at 2 p.m. and tickets are free if picked up in person at the Duke University box office in the Bryan Center (call 684-4444). Be advised, however, that this won't be a concert; but maybe Browne can be persuaded to sing a bit.

Or maybe one of them will show up tonight at this.