With Winthrop Homecoming around the corner, students are getting ready to share in the homecoming experience and show their support for our athletes. However, tailgating tends to leave behind trash on our campus as people focus more on the game and having fun than on cleaning up. Fortunately, Winthrop is ahead of the curve in finding ways to encourage people to pick up after themselves.
The Winthrop University Office of Sustainability is planning to host volunteer opportunities for students during the basketball game on Nov. 16 to celebrate Homecoming and America Recycles Day, which is technically Nov. 15. Volunteers will be recycling and picking up trash during the tailgating festivities. The responsibilities of picking up litter ties in with the message of the Department of Student Life’s Dedication for Excellence.
“Of those values, personal responsibility, the consideration of others, social responsibility, and environmental responsibility are all important values guiding how one lives and makes choices about litter,” Chris Johnson, Director of the Office of Sustainability, said.
Student organizations are also working to lessen the amount of littering at the tailgate. The Student Environmental Action Coalition is partnering with volunteers and the Office of Sustainability during the tailgate to help students pick up after themselves.
“In an environmental aspect, we think that homecoming will be a great and somewhat sustainable experience this year. We think that it will be a more environmentally friendly experience and easier cleanup. We have also heard that Winthrop will be ending (the tailgate) on time this year, as opposed to last year,” Tori Dube, SEAC secretary, said.
Plastic bottles, paper cups, cigarette butts and wrappers are among the numerous examples of litter that are commonly picked up. With big events such as tailgating, trash can be unintentionally or carelessly left behind.
“Winthrop University’s facilities management understands the importance of keeping a clean and beautiful campus and are diligent about picking up any litter found on Winthrop University’s campus,” Johnson said. “However, personally if I see litter, I pick it up – this random act can help make our campus and community a better place to live and learn.”
Littering can seem harmless at first glance, but even the smallest trash can affect the environment in a bad way. Whether you’re young or old, we all have a responsibility to keep the earth clean for future generations.
“Littering on campus can affect the plants and trees to the individuals that breathe the air produced by them. Any kind of litter can diminish the living quality of the trees, plants, animals, and individuals who are on campus,” Dube said. “In addition, by littering, we are showing other individuals around us that it is okay to litter, leading to an even more decreased quality of life. The situation that bothers us the most is when we find a Subway cup three feet from a trash can or recycling bin.”
Even though they will have clean-up volunteers present at Homecoming, the Office of Sustainability encourages students to pick up after themselves, be sustainable and participate in recycling more than throwing away.
“The university has made efforts to make disposing of waste easier during this event,” Johnson said. “There are dumpsters available near the tailgating area. There will be more than 30 trash and recycling collection bins throughout the event area. We will have extra trash and recycling bags available for people and groups to use during the event and for clean up at the end of the event.”
In addition, the Rock Hill MyRide bus services will be available for transportation to the Winthrop Coliseum and and during tailgating, students are encouraged to use reusable and recyclable bottles and cups, as well as not waste food.
“Homecoming is a tradition that welcomes back former members of the community and celebrates Winthrop University. However, events like homecoming cause a lot of waste and leave a large carbon footprint. The Office of Sustainability is focused on providing opportunities and educating people how to reduce their impact on human and natural systems,” Johnson said.
Overall, as Homecoming weekend approaches, it’s important for students to learn to find ways to help themselves and the environment. And don’t just limit your environmental concern to this one week of Homecoming — it doesn’t take a lot to make a change every day.
“As an environmental organization, we always think that it is important to be sustainable. Sustainability essentially should not be limited to one week,” Dube said. “However, given the number of activities and homecoming itself, the number of people out and about will increase, which may lead to more littering around campus. Therefore, it is important to pick up after yourself and to remind others as well.”
Photo: Sam Ross/ The Johnsonian
