‘Greeks Go Green’ to sustain IU

Few, if any, of the greek organizations scattered throughout IU’s campus recycled two years ago.

That bothered senior Clare Crosh. A member of Phi Mu, the then-sophomore banded together with another greek woman and founded Greeks Go Green.

In the second semester of that year, the Office of Student Organizations and Leadership Development recognized Greeks Go Green as an official club. And while Crosh said progress has been slow, the community has been supportive and is becoming more environmentally conscious.

Green Day, which is the official kick-off event for Sustain IU Week, is in part sponsored by Greeks Go Green. This is the event’s second year and Crosh said it is her “baby.”

“What it comes down to is that people don’t understand or know what goes on in the environment,” Crosh said. “And if they did, once they’re made aware of it, they can really start changing.”

Residence Halls Association director of environmentalism and junior Aarthi Devanathan planned the event with Crosh. It stemmed from separate ideas both organizations had last year.

Devenathan said RHA and Greeks Go Green working together helps unite the entire campus. The event is also open to everyone.

“I’m really excited to see how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the last year.”

The women said they are expecting a larger crowd than last year because they have more funding for the event and have spent more time marketing.

Crosh said she hopes their efforts will be felt on a more individual level. Greeks Go Green has gained members and support this year.

The graduating senior said she feels good about the state in which she’ll be leaving the club and the event she helped found.

Junior Skyler Roeshot is now the president of Greeks Go Green.

“I really just want things to get done,” Roeshot said. “We’ll get things done. We have to take things as a step-by-step process.”

Crosh said she knows she cannot force people to recycle or conserve resources or take care of the environment. But she said she hopes Green Day will get people motivated.

“Greeks Go Green, Green Day, it all brings environmental awareness,” Crosh said. “And that puts the power of change into their hands. And Green Day will really show people that this is a crisis and that there’s not enough being done.”