In the upcoming fall 2013 semester, the University Police Department will become more vigilant in regards to students littering on campus.
In line with the university’s “Go Green! Keep it Clean!” initiative, the administration has called on UPD efforts to be heightened in the upcoming semester in order to control the amount of students littering within campus areas.
University President John L. Crain created a committee of students, faculty and staff to discuss the littering issue and solutions to counter it; the result, an environmental, green campaign designed to sway students from littering whom normally would. The campaign began with Earth Day.
Executive Director of Public and Governmental Affairs Erin Cowser says the cracked down application was a collective idea assembled by the administration, faculty, staff and students.
“The new litter blitzes at the start of the semester are a brainchild of the group,” said Cowser. “The hope is that it will instill awareness in the campus community so they think before trashing the campus with litter. We want a clean campus to become the default habit.”
Although penalties for campus littering are presently included in the existing Student Code of Conduct, a fine of $50 and referral to the Office of Student Conduct, enforcement of the violation is currently thought of as being loose and relaxed. Tightening up on the campus regulation will act as a deterrent for violators according to Cowser.
“In order to make sure the blitzes are taken seriously, the committee decided they should involve consequences for those who do not choose to do their part in keeping Southeastern clean,” said Cowser. “The choice of either a $50 fine or five hours of litter pickup duty is intended to dissuade individuals from littering. We’d be thrilled if nobody ever littered again and no tickets or fines ever had to be given.”
The crackdown will inevitably increase revenue directed into the university.
According to Cowser, the administration acknowledges the university’s constant struggle with litterers and has attempted to prevent it in the past with garbage bins and newly located recycling bins around busy traffic areas.
“Litter has always been a frustration for Southeastern,” said Cowser. “It’s hard to understand how any individual would feel it’s OK to trash our beautiful campus. Despite strategic placement of trash cans and bins across campus, there continues to be a problem with litter. A trash can in a parking lot might be twenty feet away from a parking space, yet someone feels they have the right to open their door and dump their fast food wrappers and cups directly on the ground.”
Reports conducted by the Sustainability Center demonstrate the ongoing problem the university faces with littering on campus.
As reported, on average approximately 15 bags of garbage are collected each university school day by two staff employees, resulting in 30 full bags of garbage picked up a day. Each bag used to collect the garbage is 30″ x 36″ or 20 to 30 gallons, a larger than standard sized trash bag.
These statistics do not include the days when specific student or faculty events are held on campus, a factor that would have a negative impact on the already detrimental numbers.
Although the initiative is aimed to target careless students and faculty, the Sustainability Center understands that the amplified measures will not immediately halt all campus littering, saying that it will take some time before the campus is entirely clean.
Staff employees currently cleaning up campus daily will continue to do so, as well as patrol for litterers, until the littering issue is secured. From there, employees will contribute to the campus’ alternative needs.