Green eggs and ham?
Changes in dining facilities and dorms
By Jaclyn Dillman
Distribution Manager
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” It seems that the University of Indianapolis is taking these words to heart, as efforts are springing up across campus to benefit the environment and “go green.”
Groups like the Indianapolis Student Government and Campus Program Board have started forming committees in favor of a green campus at UIndy. Other groups are pitching into the cause as well.
The Green Team, affiliated with ISG, is a group of students that meet every Thursday in the basement of Schwitzer Student Center. Members of the Green Team encourage more students to get involved.
“We would love for more students to help us turn UIndy into a green campus,” said Anna Elzer, a Green Team member.
Students on the Green Team are currently working on ways to expanding the recycling efforts around campus.
“It’s a shame that the only recycling bins on campus are at Central Hall and Schwitzer. We are working on increasing accessibility and awareness for recycling at UIndy,” Elzer said.
Aside from student groups, efforts even stretch as far as major changes in the UIndy Marketplace.
Many changes have been made in the Marketplace this year in hopes of eliminating waste and promoting a healthier environment.
Trays are no longer provided in the Marketplace.
Ted Polk, owner of Polk Food Services, says that the elimination of trays in the dining hall will save approximately 60,000 pounds of food waste a year. The water saved by no longer washing the trays is thought to be about a gallon per tray as well.
“Eliminating the trays was necessary, and I couldn’t have asked for a better supportive and cooperative response from the students,” Polk said.
Other changes being made in food service include decreasing the use of harmful materials such as styrofoam and plastic sacks. Carry out items at Streets Grill, The Fiesta Grill and the Sub Hub are being packaged in more environmentally friendly ways as well.
According to Polk, pie pans, paper sacks and cardboard containers are being used in place of less environmentally safe substances.
Recycling is also becoming a bigger part of the Marketplace at UIndy. All cardboard products are currently recycled and aluminum can recycling is a prospective for the future.
“There is more I’d like to do, but I need to find ways to implement the changes,” Polk said.
UIndy is also “going green” with the construction of the newest residence hall on campus.
Ground was broken for the East Hall on Sept. 11. East Hall will be built from Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (ACC) block. ACC is made from recycled material and is energy-efficient and fire-resistant. UIndy was an early advocator of ACC block. Central Hall was one of the first buildings in the nation to use ACC.
UIndy is taking some major steps to benefit our environment. However, these changes can only be effective if students step in and do their part.
