INPIRG kicks off fall campus campaigns

Indiana Public Interest Research Group, a student-run volunteer organization, has kicked off its year with the startup of many new public interest projects, as well as the continuation of successful ones from years past.\nFor the past 40 years, the amount of recycling waste -- the garbage that could be recycled, but isn't -- has doubled, homelessness and hunger has plagued thousands and environmental issues have skyrocketed in importance, according to INPIRG. \nINPIRG is focusing on four campaigns this year, including Hunger and Homelessness, Environmental Alert, Recycling and protesting the building of Interstate 69 and the damage it could create.\n"It is the students' obligation to care. Without the environment around us, without our habitat we're gone," said Chris Seleski, INPIRG Recycling Campaign Coordinator. "The environment is stronger than humans. We have to treat our Mother Nature with respect." \nThe recycling campaign has developed a few major plans for the year that they plan to discuss, educate and act upon including recycling in the residence halls, off-campus recycling and duplex printing -- printing on both sides of a piece of paper.\nStudents who live in residence halls might not know how to take advantage of the recycling options the University provides.\n"It doesn't matter if there's a recycling bin right next to someone," said Dan Stoner, an INPIRG intern in charge of recycling in the residence halls. "They can see the bin, but if they aren't educated as to what to put there and why it's important, nothing gets accomplished, and that's where we come in." \nINPIRG hopes to put recycling bins on more floors of residence halls so that students are encouraged to recycle. \nAnother big problem is that students who live off-campus might not have recycling services. \n"I live off campus, and there isn't even an option to recycle," Seleski said. "They don't provide the facilities."\nINPIRG hopes to meet with landlords of many of the apartment complexes to talk about providing recycling bins for those who wish to recycle, he said. \nThey also plan to begin a program called "Party Pickup," that would allow anyone in the community to call up the service and have them pick up bottles and cans after parties to be recycled.\nINPIRG is working to advocate duplex printing -- printing on both sides of the paper -- to students and professors and have this service set as a default in technology centers and libraries across campus. \nAt their weekly meetings, held at 7:30 p.m. Mondays in Woodburn Hall, room 109, members of INPIRG plan their weekly strategies, discuss upcoming events and rallies and plan programs in the community. Much of their meeting time is devoted to finding ways to motivate students to care about these environmental issues on campus and in the community. \n"They're not going to listen unless there's something to hear," said INPIRG Campus Organizer Megan Foster. "We're just giving them the tools; it's up to them (the students) to make it happen."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.