Just as the many flowers and plants around campus are in full bloom, so is the vibrant optimism of Wright State’s sustainability initiative.
According to Dr. Linda Ramey, associate director of the Office of Sustainability, the freshman class of the 2011-2012 school year was the most ecologically-minded class Wright State has ever seen.
“They have made a clear statement,” Ramey said. “These students really do want to see Wright State become a more sustainable campus.” She predicts that the incoming freshman class will be even greener.
As more eco-friendly students flood Wright State, a wave of opportunities to reduce, recycle, and reuse have developed.
Ramey says that huge campaigns to increase recycling around campus are about to be launched for the upcoming academic year.
“We’ll be putting more recycle containers all over campus. Use them!” Ramey said.
These campaigns primarily seek to educate students and faculty on the importance of making conscious decisions when disposing of plastics, papers, metals, and glass.
“These are all things that could be reused,” Ramey said. “If disposed of correctly, there will be less waste in landfills and we will have saved resources.”
Understanding the myriad of implications all of our actions have is a key facet to making a difference. This is what Wright State’s sustainability endeavors are trying to teach students.
Acting sustainably means that we are to recognize our environmental stewardship roles. It implies that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
In the 2012 – 2013 school year, Wright State anticipates that more efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle will be enacted by students, thus making campus more sustainable and enjoyable for all.
As an institution of higher learning, Wright State is endowed with the responsibilities of serving as Dayton’s role model for ecological development. The upcoming year will undoubtedly exemplify and highlight these sustainable responsibilities.
