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I’m generally not much of “ranter” when it comes to blogging. I usually use it as a tool to inform people, but when Earth Day approaches, I tend to feel the need to get opinionated! Last year the topic was “make everyday Earth Day,” but isn’t that cliché? It’s sad to think that people need to be reminded to appreciate and treat the environment they live in with care every day. That should be a no-brainer.
However, after a recent peruse of the contents in the LCSC recycling stations, I decided that this year I’m going to get more specific and focus on recycling. For some reason recycling pushes buttons on so many levels for people. They almost take it personally when asked to recycle; like someone is trying to control them. The act of recycling isn’t just about showing appreciation for the environment; it’s about testing one’s level of determination and character, and that’s why I think people tend to get defensive when asked to recycle. They’re fearful that the number one human flaw they possess, laziness, will be revealed!
Well, I say good! Especially after having to retrieve a molding sweet roll out of a recycling container labeled for “cans only!” As I continued to sift through the bin of half trash, half recyclables of all varieties, my emotions shifted from anger to just plain disbelief. This is happening on a college campus, so illiteracy is NOT an excuse. When the bin says, “plastic only!” it means plastic only! Why is this so hard? Oh wait, the “L” word comes to mind and a bit of apathy too.
What some might not realize is when trash gets thrown into a recycling station at LCSC, the whole bin becomes trash. Physical plant doesn’t have the staff or time to sort through all of that garbage. It’s the responsibility of the people on this campus to make sure that garbage doesn’t end up in the wrong bin in the first place and as a result, the recyclables in the landfill. The LCSC Sustainability Action Team has added new recycling signage to the bins with hopes of improving this problem, but it will still be up to folks on this campus to take the initiative to recycle.
I do think there is hope for LCSC. The new recycling stations have folks talking. Faculty and staff members no longer have to stash plastic bottles in their office to recycle later (I’ve talked to several people on campus who admit doing this). Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to watch TV for three hours! And it could mean more money for LCSC! Aluminum is worth money at the recycling center, but you have to recycle a lot of it to make it worth something.
College students are busy no doubt, but there is no excuse for being too busy to take a moment to show a little appreciation for the environment. When one becomes neglectful and takes something for granted, it eventually becomes damaged or disappears. Let’s not continue to let that happen to our beautiful Earth. Life is about much more than just us humans.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the events happening during LCSC’s Earth Week. More details to come…
| SAT Update (Sustainability Action Team)
LCSC Learning Garden: Thomas Walker is in need of student volunteers SPNR (Sustainabiltiy Partnership of the Northern Rockies): This group was established in spring 2011 and includes 16 institutions (including LCSC) of Higher Education. It’s still in its beginning stages, but its main purpose is to give these member institutions an opportunity to share resources and information and to promote sustainability in higher education and other parts of the culture. It is a regional effort that accounts for and draws from the strengths of the unique economic, cultural and environmental identities and contexts of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Activities and goals for this group include: holding monthly video or phone conferences on specific issue areas, facilitating information, sharing and serving as a clearinghouse for sustainability knowledge and solutions, conducting periodic physical meetings at different schools/organizations to showcase programs and progress, holding a conference every other year to be hosted by one school with multiple other schools, helping and collaborating on funding proposals that benefit a number of the member institutions. LCSC Assistant Professor of Computer Science Daniel Conte de Leon has been a participant in this group since its start, developing a Wiki site for the group to share information and marketing materials. President Tony Fernandez also recently asked Assistant Professor of Engineering Jenni Light to represent LCSC in this group. To learn more or to become an active participant in this partnership, contact Lindsey Davies, lldavies@lcsc.edu. Sustainability Conference “Strengthening Sustainability-across-the Curriculum”: Held at Spokane Community College and hosted by The Evergreen State College, this conference aimed to provide a forum for faculty, staff and students to receive information about pressing Columbia Plateau issues and to share ideas for strengthening sustainability-across-the-curriculum on our campuses. Faculty members Jenni Light, Marika Botha and Thomas Walker represented LCSC at this conference. Session discussion topics included how to use photography to instill change, incorporate food system education in curriculum, engage students in environmental stewardship or sustainability initiatives through service-learning, become a member of SPNR, etc… LCSC Earth Day Planning: Planning for LCSC’s Earth Day celebration starts soon! Last year’s event was a success thanks to a great group of volunteers! Let’s try to continue this new tradition at LCSC. Anyone can volunteer to be a part of the Earth day planning committee. To learn more or volunteer, contact: Lindsey Davies, lldavies@lcsc.edu. |
to help plant and maintain the LCSC Learning Garden. The site is located across the street from the LCSC baseball field on 6th street. A couple of Walker’s classes conducted soil tests on the site to get it ready for planting and now it’s ready. Students who would like to help out should contact either Walker at 
While some students will be taking the week off during Spring Break, a group of four LCSC students and three UI students will be working hard in Hells Canyon! This group of students will be doing habitat restoration with Idaho Fish and Game to help restore an area damaged by a wildfire in 2007. This is the second annual LCSC Alternative Spring Break Trip to Hells Canyon with Idaho Fish and Game.
Alternative Spring Break is when students opt to do community service work during their Spring Break. Many colleges and universities nation-wide provide community service-based trips like this during Spring Break.
Last year, students helped Idaho Fish and Game plant almost 14,000 trees, Sagebrush and Bitterbrush. This year’s group will get to see the progress of that effort and continue it. The work site is at Billy Creek Ranch located 25 miles up the Snake River from Lewiston on the Idaho side. The trip is FREE for students. Fish and Game provides the transportation, food and lodging for the five day trip.
Stay tuned for photos and trip hightlights!
Read what LCSC students, from various disciplines and courses, are saying about their experiences doing service-learning projects:
“Service learning was essential to this course. I learned more through this service learning project than through any of the other activities of the semester. Actually observing a person’s character strengths in action and writing a paper about them helped me understand the concept of character strengths and virtues much better.”
“I found that the most valuable thing about this semester was that I started this project. The data that I used is going to be built upon at a further data by the site supervisor. It was neat to start something that has an actual purpose.”
“The elder I visited with is one of the most caring people I have ever met and spending time with her every week was an inspiration.”
“There should be many more interactions between the various agencies and organizations to meet the needs of the community, no matter what the age. Cooperative efforts garner the greatest results.”
“This experience has been fulfilling in terms of reaching out and getting to know an elder. Apart from this class, I would have never explored outside my comfort zone to build a relationship with an elder. I really enjoyed this experience!”
“I hope to be involved in another service learning project next semester. If I am not, then I will continue to volunteer on my own.”
LC Service Corps at Lewis-Clark State College 