“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” It’s a mantra we’ve all heard at one time or another. How many of us actually try to live by this simple guideline? We all see the green and blue recycling containers around campus, meant for the plastic bottles, aluminum cans and old notebook paper that would otherwise be tossed into already over-flowing trashcans. I know that often I will toss a bottle into the trash simply because it is closer than the recycling bin. But in a country that is gradually becoming more aware of protecting the environment, perhaps it’s time for us to start taking those colorful bins more seriously.

Younger generations have begun to adopt a “Green” outlook; buying environmentally safe chemicals and organic food is the latest fad. So what are the students of Valdosta State University doing to help the Green movement? One student organization, a group called “S.A.V.E.”, has developed unique and engaging ways to encourage fellow students to become active in their communities and the environment.

Students Against Violating the Environment, which was first established in 1988, focuses on improving the quality of life for our current generation, as well as future generations. S.A.V.E. members have joined with the Student Government Association as well as the Residence Hall Association to implement more recycling options for students. S.A.V.E.’s efforts are not limited to recycling, though. Last fall, S.A.V.E. worked with the Sodexo Company to incorporate more organic and locally-grown foods into the Hopper and Palms Dining Hall menus.

S.A.V.E. has many upcoming events, including a movie night on February 25th where they will be showing movies like “The Simpsons Movie” and “Ferngully”, films that focus on caring for the environment. S.A.V.E. will also be joining with the Environmental Issues Committee to help promote a recycling competition between residence halls that will begin on March 1st, and will end the week of April 19th. An award will be given to the winning hall on Earth Day (April 22nd).

The staff at VSU is making big steps toward bettering the environment for the generations to come as well. VSU President Schloss signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) last spring, which is a plan that will reduce and hopefully eliminate VSU’s contribution to global warming by limiting the amount of fossil fuels used by the University and switching to more environmentally-safe forms of energy. Naturally, the process will be a slow one, with many difficulties popping up, but the willingness of the administration to face these challenges in order to provide for a cleaner future is to be applauded. Such a huge commitment cannot be laid at the feet of the staff alone, but should be taken up by the students as well. “Students should be aware of the environment—without it, we can’t live. Every little bit counts. There are so many recycling opportunities available, and we’re working to implement more,” says S.A.V.E. President Erin Hurley, a Junior Anthropology major.

The steps being taken by our administration and student groups like S.A.V.E. are putting Valdosta State University on the path toward an environmentally-conscious campus, but it’s up to the student population to help. It doesn’t take much to help keep VSU beautiful: turning off a light when you leave a room, or throwing that empty soda bottle into the green recycling container are just a couple of easy ways to help.