It can feel as though large problems like climate change and sustainability are not within a student’s power to change. Some may be quick to believe the actions of an individual are meaningless in light of the enormity of climate issues, pushing for large systemic changes instead.
However, small actions can add up over time, and each student at UI has the power to make a lasting difference for our campus and community by partnering with campus resources. Students can take matters into their own hands to fight for change.
When it comes to climate activism and sustainability on campus, the Sustainability Center is one of the best resources the university has to offer. The Center is staffed predominately by students and Olivia Wiebe, the sustainability coordinator.
Wiebe said the center’s mission is to “enhance campus sustainability and integrate sustainability into campus culture.” The Center works to educate students about sustainability and provide them with opportunities to volunteer and make a difference for the climate.
The Center hosts three volunteer events annually; “Get Dirty,” “Get Rooted” and “Spruce the Palouse.” All students are welcome to attend to make Moscow and the Palouse a more beautiful and greener place. More information about these events and how to sign up can be found on UI’s Sustainability Center website.
The center also provides grants for students with projects concerning sustainability. This allows anyone who has ideas on how to make campus a greener space to apply for financial backing for their projects. Students who have taken initiative to make their ideas a reality, with the help of the Sustainability Center, have been the driving forces of considerable change on campus.
Water bottle refill stations, occupancy sensors in dorms and low-flow showerheads are the results of students pushing for change and using the resources available through the Sustainability Center to make them happen.
This year, the Sustainability Center is putting extra emphasis on eco-consciousness, which Wiebe describes as “understanding that your actions as an individual have an impact on your community and your planet.”
It’s important that students understand the power their personal choices and actions make on the environment, and with the help of the Sustainability Center, students can get out in the community to make a difference, as well as take action to bring their sustainability ideas to life to improve UI’s campus.
Another notable issue at UI this year is the fight to bring back recycling on campus. The recycling program was cancelled due to reallocation of funds during budget cuts, inspiring the Sustainability Center and student leaders to work to bring the program back.
ASUI Director of Sustainability Olivia Niemi is passionate about climate activism and works as one of the leading voices in the push to bring recycling back.
However, until the administration reboots the recycling program, students can make campus greener by recycling on their own. The Moscow Recycling Center is open 24/7 as a self-sort system and has labeled bins to put recyclable items in.
Students can save their own recyclable products such as cardboard, plastic, aluminum cans and glass, then bring them to the Recycling Center to be processed. If students want to make a difference for sustainability practices on campus, recycling with their roommates or even just individually is a perfect place to start, Niemi said.
“Having the small living groups recycle on their own makes a big impact on campus,” Niemi said.
Water conservation is also a serious sustainability issue UI, as well as the rest of the Palouse, is facing. The Palouse area struggles with increasing aquifer depletion, and one of the best ways for students to make the community more sustainable is by using less water in their daily lives.
Marina Montanez, a freshman majoring in water management, believes being a smart consumer and staying conscientious of the water being used is the best way to save water and live more sustainably.
Montanez suggests practical, everyday changes like taking shorter showers, making sure the laundry and dishwasher is all the way full before running and using reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones. She also suggests students should “shop smart.”
“Lots of plastic items require water in the manufacturing process, so buy products that require less or no water to make them,” Montanez said.
Simple changes to daily life can add up to make a lasting difference for the sustainability of our campus and community, Montanez said. Outside of conserving water and recycling, there are other ways college students can be climate activists in their everyday lives.
Wiebe recommends being smart with power usage by unplugging appliances that are not in use, turning off lights when you leave a room and always using natural light when possible. Other ways to help include walking, biking or using public transportation instead of driving whenever possible.
“It doesn’t have to be big all the time,” Niemi said. “Just picking up trash you see outside, or making sure you bring a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one … every small thing you do makes a big difference.”
Grace Giger can be reached at [email protected]