Lake Marion The Xavierite
Thanks to the consistent efforts made by The Green Movement, the SXU community has developed a growing awareness and concern for the environment.
In light of the Pop-Up Thrift Store, The Green Movement’s most recent triumph, the editorial board discussed how the university can promote sustainability on campus and beyond.
Environmental friendliness should be a core value for Saint Xavier University, not only because it is a critical concern for the Sisters of Mercy but also because of the wildlife we have on campus. Aside from the plentiful trees and various plants around the school, there are small animals like squirrels and birds that inhabit the area.
Multiple members of the editorial board noted that Lake Marion is home to geese and ducks that wander the campus just as much as students do. However, they are constantly in danger as a result of garbage being discarded in or near the lake.
Thankfully, SXU has already taken a few steps toward a more sustainable future.
Located in the diner and the 2nd floor S-Wing are bookshelves filled with novels, nonfiction, librettos, and more. Students can take or leave books at these free little libraries throughout the school year, and many board members attest to their convenience.
“It actually had one of the textbooks that I needed, and it was free,” one member raved about the bookshelf, going so far as to call it a “lifesaver.”
Another member added that these shelves can help “ensure that these books do not end up in a landfill.”
One board member even suggested that the little free libraries can help promote sustainability in the surrounding neighborhoods as well.
“I actually think SXU could put a couple [libraries] outside somewhere on campus because a lot of people from the area walk around campus anyway,” they said, emphasizing that the environment should be a communal concern.
Additionally, one member pointed out Champ’s Career Closet, a resource on campus where students in need can access business-casual clothing for free.
To make this even more sustainable, the board suggests creating “a clothing donation system for non-professional clothing items” that could serve not only the university but also the neighboring communities.
However, there are also prevalent environmental stressors on campus that are not currently being addressed.
If you’re looking for something to eat or drink on campus, chances are you will be left with single-use plastic, whether it be utensils from the diner or cups from Coffee Cats. Consider how many students, staff, and faculty members have meals on campus every day. Even if everyone had only one plastic item, imagine how dangerously it would still add up.
One solution the editorial board suggests is that the university consider switching to paper products. Even just switching out the cups and straws in the diner with paper over plastic would make a world of difference.
One board member said the school could stock reusable products in the diner instead. A traditional dining hall system could be implemented where students return dishes after use.
This might seem like a costly shift, but plastic products could hurt both environmentally and economically. As a board member explains, “The costs of continuously buying disposable plastic ware must at some point equal out to what it would cost to buy reusable items for the diner and keep them clean.”
Changes can be made on the student’s side as well. Littering has been a frequent issue on campus lately, with trash being disposed of incorrectly in the quad, in parking lots, and in the school itself.
Students should take accountability for themselves and their peers in the aim of a greener campus. Even if you don’t litter, pick up the crumpled plastic bag and move it to a trash can.
A simple fix is to bring reusable bags and water bottles with you whenever possible to avoid needing to repeat purchases of single-use plastic.
One board member suggested a collaboration between The Green Movement and the school administration to help create opportunities for community building and service.
They envision a “new big environmentally friendly practice on campus such as a compost station, or a rehabilitation of the greenhouse” to be implemented over a school year.
However, the average student should also get involved with events on campus geared towards helping the environment, whether it be attending The Green Movement’s “Succulent Sale” on April 23 or staying informed about eco-focused service opportunities.
Do your part to make SXU a more sustainable institution, even if it be little by little. After all, the smallest seeds can sometimes grow the biggest trees.