Students Keep Campus Clean

Dozens of students participated in the AsU’s first campus clean-up of the semester.

Published: Monday, November 28, 2011

Updated: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 17:11

Despite the gloomy weather, dozens of Valley College students gathered in Student Services Center 205 Thursday to pick up biodegradable plastic gloves and bags to begin the first campus clean- up of the semester, a joint effort between the Associated Student Union and various campus clubs.

"We try to make the campus look a little bit nicer so that you can enjoy being a part of it," said Tau Alpha Epsilon President Shawn Besharaty, whose club suggested the idea to the ASU Commissioner of Campus and Environmental Affairs Lester B. Salvador.

According to Salvador, the event received strong support from ASU, the campus radio station, KVCM, and other clubs.

The 30-to-35 students who participated were spread out in different locations such as parking lots, Monarch Square and Campus Drive.

"There is so much trash; it's not that we should be cleaning it up, it's [that] people should be not littering in the first place," said Eco Advocates Club member Stephanie Velasco. "There are trash cans everywhere; they [students] should throw their trash in the proper spot!"

"In the time we were out there, we saw [medicinal] drugs, we saw pencils, CDs and trash of all types of food, and picked up one condom," said Besharaty. Within 15 minutes, his group filled three bags in parking lot A alone. Salvador, ASU's campus and environmental affairs commissioner, added, "People are very inconsiderate in terms of throwing away their trash."

The most common object that almost every student participating in the clean-up found was cigarette butts. "If these smokers insist in throwing their smokes on the floor, they don't deserve the right to smoke on campus," said TAE member Sonia Robles. "I think they should ban smoking and fine students that are smoking, and then we could raise money that way." After observing the amount of cigarette butts found, Salvador is considering a competition for the next clean-up that would award a prize to the student who finds the most butts.

"If we made this a school event, maybe we can all help to keep campus clean," said Robles. "Just take the extra steps and throw it [garbage] in the trash."

Students can contribute by volunteering for the next clean-ups, scheduled for Nov. 22 and Dec.8 from 4 to 5 p.m. A pizza party will follow the last campus clean-up, Dec. 8.