The Student Green Team (SGT) of Richland Campus organized a lake and campus cleanup to improve the environment and promote sustainable practices.
The activity lasted about an hour. It began with a brief safety talk in Wichita Hall, where professor Tara Urbanski discussed precautions for collecting trash and assigned the work areas for the volunteers.
Tara Urbanski, faculty sponsor of the Green Team and professor of geology and environmental science, emphasized the importance of initiatives like this. She said, “Collective action has a visible impact on our surroundings and encourages others to join the movement.”
Student member of the Richland SGT, Ella Nicoloff, expressed pride in seeing everyone working together. “It’s amazing to see how this initiative brings so many people willing to make a difference. It’s a collective effort that makes me really proud of our community,” she said while picking up trash near the lake.
Omar Abukar, the Green Team’s social media manager, joined the event to help clean up the campus. He said often notices litter while walking around and saw this as an opportunity to do something about it. Abukar also pointed out that it’s a great way to exercise while protecting the environment.
Lalo Santos, a volunteer, recognized that the event organization was outstanding.“They divided us into groups to cover different sections of the lake, and the instructions were easy to follow, even for those who weren’t familiar with this kind of activity,” he said. He also suggested that having more volunteers could help cover additional areas of the campus.
There were also community members who recognized the hard work on this event. Clayton Hale, a fisherman who frequents the lake, said: “The area looks incredibly clean compared to previous weeks. These efforts make a huge difference, but it’s up to everyone to keep this place nice.” Hale also encouraged people to be more mindful when disposing of their trash and to use the bins located around the campus.
In addition to cleanup tasks, the Green Team is also working on long-term projects to enhance sustainability on campus. According to Dylan Bond, vice president of the Green Team, “We’re developing a pollinator garden that’s set to launch in the spring. We’re really excited about this project and we plan to keep hosting events like this one to maintain a clean campus.”
Bond also talked about the types of waste commonly found during cleanups. “The biggest thing I look for is styrofoam. It doesn’t break down well in the environment and we always find small pieces scattered around. We also come across a lot of cigarette butts and fishing lines, which are harder to spot but still there. These small efforts really do make a big difference.”
The event also reminded everyone of the importance of keeping the campus clean and protecting the local wildlife. Animals like ducks and squirrels, which are a common sight at Richland, can be negatively affected by litter and processed foods.
Santos and Abukar said that the far northern and southern areas of the campus tend to need the most attention due to trash accumulation. They suggested adding more garbage bins in these locations to encourage proper disposal. “It’s important to raise awareness about how our actions affect both the environment and the animals living here,” said Santos. Abukar added, “Small changes, like avoiding littering, can make a big difference.”
