The Repurposing Club’s proposal for recycling bins on campus failed, resulting in further discussion of on-campus recycling.
Student senators approved the bill Feb. 3, but Nic Rhodes, Student Government Association president, vetoed it, saying the Senate needed more time to discuss the bill due to concerns about practicality. Senators met Feb. 8 and unanimously decided to sustain the veto.
The original bill asked for about $760 to fund the placement of 200 recycling bins in United Methodist Hall. The program’s goal was to urge students to place recycling bins outside their doors on assigned days of the week, according to the proposal.
After Rhodes’s veto, several students spoke out in support of the bill. Arrash Allahyar, cell and molecular biology senior, sent an email Feb. 8 to all members of the Honors Program urging them to support the bill.
Despite several students’ emails to senators, the Senate agreed to sustain Rhodes’s veto.
“I think it became clear to the senators that there are alternative routes to recycling,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes said he has discussed alternatives, such as a smaller pilot program and the approval of housing and facilities workers.
“We’ll need to utilize all of the school’s programs so we can make it the best program it can be,” Rhodes said.
“I really appreciate the Senate for looking at the facts and making a decision based on that information.”
Monica Hiller, elementary education junior and speaker of the Senate, said she originally supported the bill because she saw support from students, but she reconsidered after speaking with Rhodes.
“What really got me thinking was that there wasn’t a lot of research prior to the bill being written,” Hiller said.
She said she would be willing to fund a pilot program requesting 75 bins instead of 200. Hiller also said she would like to see data proving that students will use the bins and that the program will work in compliance with Oklahoma City’s recycling process.
“I am in favor of recycling on campus,” Hiller said. “I think something needs to be done. I also think that what was presented is not the best start.”
Hiller said she received several emails urging her to consider approval.
“I was very pleased to see students and faculty emailing me in support of the bill,” Hiller said. “I loved seeing SGA involved.”
Ken Williams, chemistry senior, formed the Repurposing Club and introduced the bill.
Williams said he will work with SGA to present a resolution to the administration proposing that money be placed in the facilities budget to fund the project.
Williams spoke with Michael Burns, director of housing and residence life, about making the recycling bins part of housing fees. The bins would come with the room just as the furniture does, and students would be responsible for them and fined if they remove them.
Williams said recycling would be beneficial to the students and would improve the university’s image of ecological awareness.
“This really just needs to happen,” Williams said. “It’s pathetic that it hasn’t happened yet.”
He said he hopes students will support the Repurposing Club while they work to have the bill approved. Williams said he would especially appreciate the support of underclassmen who can continue the program.
Members of the Honors Program and TriBeta, the biology fraternity, came forward in support of the Repurposing Club’s plans.
“I think this will eventually come to fruition in one way or another,” Williams said. “Whoever’s budget it comes out of, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to happen because it needs to and there’s enough people who care about it.”
Williams said his plans for the Repurposing Club include composting food from the caf that would otherwise be thrown out.
“College is the perfect environment to set people up to do a little bit of something to help the huge global issue that’s really going to be on the forefront of our generation’s minds throughout our lives,” he said.
Williams said he hopes student-led action will lead to similar programs in the future.
Students can join the Repurposing Club by joining their Facebook group, OCU Repurposing Club.
For more information, email Williams at kowilliams@my.okcu.edu.
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