The Student Government Association has passed a resolution calling on the university administration to install automatic hand dryers in bathroom facilities.
Resolution 002 was drafted by Sen. (dance and entertainment) Emily Haan.
The resolution recommends the installation of automatic hand dryers as both an environmental and fiscal conservation effort.
“Essentially, the resolution is calling on OCU to do their part in preventing unnecessary environmental waste,” said Sen. (music) Elmer Carter III. “Excessive paper towel use is a waste of trees, and that could be prevented by installing the automatic dryers.”
Carter said the installation of automatic hand dryers would ultimately save money.
“It would take a while to get there, but over time it would definitely prove to be financially beneficial,” Carter said. “It’s cheaper to use the hand dryers rather than constantly buying and stocking paper towels.”
The resolution states that the average cost of paper towels for restrooms in a public facility totals approximately $75, while the cost of an electric hand dryer is $280-$480 per unit, $200 installation, and $15 in energy per month.
Blake Bulger, nursing sophomore, said he supports the idea as long as students still have the option to use paper towels.
“People are always running to the bathroom to grab paper towels if, for example, something gets spilled,” Bulger said. “They have many different uses. I think installing automatic dryers is great, just as long as students still have those other options.”
Bulger said he is glad the university is taking more steps to becoming a green campus.
“When I first came to school, we didn’t have many options for recycling and other things like that,” Bulger said. “Green options have started popping up more and more, and that’s amazing. I can tell the administration is trying, and I hope they do more in the future.”
Carter said there is a high student demand for environmentally sustainable options.
“Sustainable options are definitely an issue students are fighting for, and SGA is helping in that fight,” Carter said. “I think the university has done really well so far by listening to and acting on students’ requests. I really hope they consider the resolution and, eventually, other environmentally sustainable options.”
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