CleanUp Campaign Joins Day of Service

By Jo Zulkowsky
Photos of the event

The Clean up campaign, where about 40 students volunteered, was part of Southern Illinois University’s Day of Service on Saturday Sept. 7, 2002.

The volunteer groups included Delta Phi Mu, a multi-cultural sorority, Circle K, AmeriCorps, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, students from the residence halls and Student Environmental Center along with individual volunteers.

“Our crews picked up trash in the areas of the Faner gathering area, Thompson Woods, Campus Lake, Piles Fork Creek, the strip along South University Ave. and the Village of Makanda.

“When people come visit our campus or region their impression might be negative due to all the trash,” said Paul Restivo Director for the Center for Environmental Health and Safety. “The Physical Plant does a good job on campus and we don’t thank them enough.”

 “The volunteers do help, the campus is by far the cleanest area in Carbondale,” Restivo said.

“We like to see Carbondale and the campus beautiful,” Emily Chrisman one of the day’s volunteers and student president of Circle K said.

Tammi Skalitzky, a graduate student with Circle K, said she volunteered to show pride in our community. She has been involved with volunteer work since high school and she continues to volunteer since she said it is fun.

Trash bags were handed out with the instruction to keep recyclable materials separate. “We recycle as much as we can,” Restivo said. Plastic, cans, glass are the main recyclable materials the clean up campaign recycles.

“The difference between us and the Illinois Department of Transportation and Keep Carbondale Beautiful is they do not specifically ask people to separate recyclables,” Restivo explained.

The bags of disposable trash once full were put into dumpsters near where crews were working.

“I filled up three bags myself so far,” said Jacque Gilmore who volunteered on her own after seeing an ad in the Dawg Book. “I wanted to meet more people and to help pick up trash since it looks nasty,” Gilmore said.

“There seems to be a lot of pizza crust otherwise there is just the ordinary stuff,” said Lauren Kitover who was working along the strip. Kitover has been volunteering with the clean up for a little over two years. This is her third year. She was one of the first Environmental Ambassadors who volunteered more than 30 hours for the clean up campaign. She also won the volunteer of the year award for the 2001-2002 school year from the Saluki Volunteer Corps for her efforts.

Besides trash, the main focus of the day was to pick up cigarette butts. Last year a study was done by an intern at the Center for Environmental Health and Safety who analyzed cigarette butt litter on campus. In one 10 by 10-foot area 1,500 cigarette butts were found.

To emphasize the harm done by cigarette butts two posters were on display in the meeting room. One showed a squirrel in red with a black background saying “no butts please just nuts.” The other pictured a bird in black with a yellow background saying “help me.” The bottom of each poster said,“ dispose of cigarette butts correctly.” Small bags were handed out to each group for them to put cigarette butts in.

The goal is to collect 100 pounds by the end of the semester. “Cigarette butts as a focus of collection will be used as an educational tool and we hope to attack them on campus,” Restivo said.

Jennee Rommel of Delta Phi Mu said, “I think things are really good in doing this since we have to look at the campus everyday.”

“Southern Illinois University makes a direct impact and provides a learning experience for students,” said Mythili Rundblad Coordinator of the Saluki Volunteer Corps. “This also provides a connection to the town and makes people more aware of us.” “Events held in the community prepare students with a learning experience and an opportunity to gain leadership skills.”

At the end of the clean up students were treated to lunch at the Recreation Center’s Alumni Lounge provided through the Saluki Volunteer Corps and the donation of pizza from Papa John’s.

Vice Chancellor Larry Dietz sent his support for the program based on past involvement and his sincere appreciation of the litter pick up. Unfortunately, he was out of the country and unable to attend the clean up.

This event has been taking place for the past three years. It was originally started by Glenn Poshard and has made a positive impact for the university. “The long term and ultimate goal of the program is to change the culture that allows litter to defile our naturally beautiful Southern Illinois region,” Restivo said.

This is a positive effort and we are not pointing fingers; rather we want to awaken people’s good instincts,” said Restivo.