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Student 'adopts' new plan for cleaning up campus
By Julie Cronk
Imagine driving up to a beautiful, clean campus that is cigarette butt free.
This is the dream that is the driving force behind SCSU student Cory Burggraff's idea for the Adopt-a-Campus Program.
The Adopt-a-Campus program would mimic the Adopt-a-Highway program, only in Adopt-a-Campus, instead of streets, students and student organizations would "adopt" different areas of campus to keep clean.
The idea first came to Burggraff one day when he was tired of seeing so many cigarette butts lying all over campus, in some cases mere inches from cigarette butt dispensers.
The idea not only benefits all students and visitors, but also gives organizations an opportunity to help the community.
"I am a smoker myself, but I still care about SCSU's campus," Burggraff said.
"I basically am a smoker, just acting like a non smoker."
Burggraff's plan is to contact as many people as necessary to get action started.
He has already met with Atwood Director Margo Thomas, Volunteer Link Coordinator Lissa Staples and is planning to meet with the maintenance crew very soon.
Eventually, Burggraff will be sending out a flyer to the students and organizations on campus informing them about how to become a part of this program.
The flyer will be the first step of Burggraff's call to action for the rest of the university's students and organizations.
"I think any involvement that helps cleaning up the environment has only positive effects and this I would encourage all to be a part of," said David Bialke, social director of the Real Estate Club.
The details of Burggraff's plan start with the organizations.
They would be assigned to a portion of campus for a negotiated amount of time during the school year.
After getting an assignment, maintenance would provide the organizations with brooms for cleaning up the cigarette butts.
Another way SCSU is trying to beautify its campus is by moving ashtrays that are currently placed in front of buildings farther away to avoid the pile up of cigarette butts directly in front of major doorways.
But Burggraff would like more than just a cleaner campus; he would like to clean up the attitudes of some students.
"Basically, I would just like to relieve the tension between smokers and non-smokers," Burggraff said.
"We can all live together, as long as we work at it."
Right now Burggraff's Adopt-a-Campus is just an idea, but with SCSU's support and concern it could be a possible solution to a campus-wide problem.
"For those students interested, please do contact me with any questions," Burggraff said,
"I am more than happy to help keep SCSU beautiful."
Students and organizations can e-mail Burggraff at: [email protected]
Facts:
*A single cigarette butt takes anywhere from 1-5 years to decompose.
*Minnesota Adopt-A-Highway has 4800 different organization
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