Dear Editor,
Last night as I walked to my apartment after a couple of hours in the library, something obstructed my pathway on the sidewalk, right in front of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house.
Not only had the True Gentlemen placed their trash containers out for pick up the next day, but also bags of garbage and other miscellaneous items next to it.
Well, needless to say the trash man only took what was inside of the designated containers because this morning on my way to campus, there was still trash and miscellany on the sidewalk and on the street.
It was disgusting, and I was extremely incensed. But what about the ridiculous amounts of cardboard and aluminum cans (waste from a certain beverage; I’ll let you assume which one) that were so obviously mixed in with this garbage?
All of that is now going to the landfill! And those materials are totally recyclable!
I think that a “True Gentleman” should be a gentleman to all, including his Mother Earth and neighbors who walk down the street.
On another note, the new recycling program on campus has been doing great so far! Since the program started ETSU has collected tons and tons (I am not exactly sure of the number, but I know it has been in the “ton” range) of recyclables. And this is great!
It is a great start toward making our community and world a cleaner place, but I think we can do more.
So now I implore every student of ETSU to go online on April 14 and 15 and vote in the SGA elections along with other campus issues.
One of these issues is the ETSU Green Fee. This is a fee that will be around $5. If and when this fee is passed, a committee composed of students and faculty who are knowledgeable about sustainability will decide what this money goes towards.
Any student who has an idea for what they would like to see done with the money may let the committee know.
In general, possible ways this money may be used are: solar panels, green roofs, individual meters on all buildings, motion light sensors in classrooms and buildings, etc.
The money will be used only for ETSU purposes and will not be used toward supporting the TVA Green Power switch program, as had been previously suggested. Just $5 is a meal at McDonald’s, and I think we can all spare that.
So please vote. Voting is one privilege that we are given so let’s take advantage of it.
– Holly Dillon

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