September 10, 2021
OPINION
B-2
Sustainability: What, where and how sup p or t t h e Ea r t h w e inhabit. To keep it simple, living an eco-friendly lifestyle is living in a way that is not harmful or limits the amount of harm done to the environment, which includes making decisions during your everyday routine that consider the Kaitlyn Myers environmental impact your actions have. Sustainability at Kaitlyn Myers is a Slippery Rock junior professional There are already efforts to make our writing major with a community more minor in gerontology. sustainable. The Office of Sustainability works Kaitlyn is an active to help SRU reach member of Best Buddies c a r b o n n e u t r a l i t y b y 2037, which is a goal at SRU. outlined by the Climate Y o u h a v e h e a r d i t Action Plan crafted for a l l b e f o r e , t h e e c o - the university in 2012. Carbon neutrality is friendly slogans t e l l i n g u s t o " G o when carbon emissions g reen!" and "Li ve li f e r e l e a s e d w o u l d b e s u s t a i n a b l y . " M a y b e equal to the removal of y o u t h i n k i t ' s t o o carbon dioxide. Carbon daunting, maybe you e m i s s i o n s r e l e a s e d don't understand what would cancel out with it means or maybe you c a r b o n c o n s e r v a t i o n efforts such as ju st do no t agree. I becam e i nteres t e d c a r b o n o f f s e t t i n g o r i n s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , o r reduction of emissions. the process of avoiding C o i n c i d i n g w i t h t h e d e p l e t i n g n a t u r a l Climate Action Plan, resources for future there are recycling g e n e r a t i o n s t o u s e , efforts, which stop 200 d u r ing the s tart o f t h e tons of material from COVID-19 pandemic. being placed in landfills As the world was going e a c h s c h o o l y e a r , through an i ncredi b le a r o u n d t h e c a m p u s . a m o u n t o f t u r m o i l , There are filter water I w a s a s k i n g m y s e l f bottle refill stations in how I could make a all buildings, which d i f f e r e n c e i n s o m e promotes reusing water w a y. As I m o ved b a c k b o t t l e s a n d a v o i d i n g t o t h e S l i p p e r y R o c k single-use plastic. The Macoskey Center community, I have f o r Sustainability continued trying to l i v e a n e c o - f r i e n d l y Education and Research l ifestyle that wo rks t o w a s n a m e d a f t e r t h e SRU professor Dr.
Welcome back, learners
Kali Davies-Anderson Kali is a senior public health major. She is a non-traditional student and plans on applying to grad school when she graduates. She has previously worked with the New Castle News. The sun is shining (on most days), the air is warm and it is impossible to find a parking spot anywhere on campus in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday. In-person learning is back in business. I must admit that I did not mind a completely remote class schedule. After all, there is something to be said about taking an exam in your pajamas with a mug of coffee and a fluffy goldendoodle at your feet. But, when I sat down in my first in-person class this semester, it felt like a breath of fresh air (even though it was really just my own air... masks). The sights, sounds and smells of campus are a familiar one to many of us, and as I (finally) enter my senior year, I am embracing these inperson experiences, as
they will be some of my last as an undergrad. I c a n’t s p e a k f o r everyone, but I missed human interactions. Even something as simple as raising my hand with a question that was already asked (and answered) because I am deaf in one ear and can’t read lips through the masks, seems...familiar. So, as we all embark on fall semester 2021, I encourage my fellow students to take these experiences in. Unfortunately, the world we live in right now is one riddled with uncertainty and only peppered lightly with normalcy that acts as a seasoning for an otherwise cautious and careful day-to-day existence. Form the relationships with your peers that you were pining for last year. Engage in campus activities if you feel safe doing so, and take in what we now all realize to be the luxury of being together. Have a great semester, and stay healthy and safe!
"But, when I sat down in my first inperson class this semester, it felt like a breath of fresh air (even though it was really just my own air... masks)."
Robert A. Macoskey in 1990. This 83acre property offers community gardens and greenhouses, chickens, hiking trails, classroom settings, composting opportunities and a solar PV system. The Macoskey Center offers sustainable education and demonstrations for the Slippery Rock community. The philosophy of The Macoskey Center
Gateway Park right off of Main Street, the farmers market operates every Saturday from May to October from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All participating businesses supply only locally grown or hand-crafted items. You can find fresh vegetables, fruits, baked goods, bread, beautiful wildflowers and unique crafts. Not only are there direct-to-consumer
"On the most basic level, turning off the lights when you leave a room and turning off the water when it is not in constant use can have significant impacts on energy and water conservation efforts. Bring your own water bottle to campus and use the water refill stations. There are hundreds of great water bottle companies, so you can absolutely find one that works best for you." centers around creating "an environmentally, socially and e c o n o m i c a l l y sustainable and just future." Another place to catch The Macoskey Center is at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market. Located in the
sales occurring, but relationships with community members and SRU students form, too. Simple Switches You Can Make Clearly, the Slippery Rock community is full of sustainable opportunities, so
what can you do to participate in them? Start small! Changing and adapting to new ideas is never easy, but The Rock community can be a guide. On the most basic level, turning off the lights when you leave a room and turning off the water when it is not in constant use can have significant impacts on energy and water conservation efforts. Bring your own reusable water bottle to campus and use the water refill stations. There are hundreds o f grea t w a t er bo t t l e companies, so you can absolutely find one that works best for you. If you like using a straw, try ditching the plastic ones and carry your own instead. There's a set by Ello that can be found at Target and includes a carrying case that can go right on your key chain, four straws and a cleaning brush. If you have a dishwasher, an added bonus is that this product is dishwasher safe. During the next two months, the Slippery Rock Farmers Market will continue to be open on Saturday mornings. Gather some of your friends and make a morning of it. Consider buying local, fresh products that you can use to cook with during the next week. This action promotes local business and helps to avoid carbon emissions that come from transporting imported produce to grocery stores.
Along the same line, eating your leftovers helps reduce food waste. Who knew that just simply eating a meal twice can help you live sustainably? If you do happen to have spoiled leftovers or food scraps from fruits and vegetables, consider composting. All you have to do is collect the scraps, as The Macoskey Center has a bin where community members can drop off their compost piles and leave the process of developing soil to The Macoskey Center staff. To start this, as you need to do is email The Macoskey Center at macoskey.center@ sru.edu. To help change your mindset and learn more about eco-friendly living, follow sustainably focused social media pages and sign up for daily sustainable newsletters. These online resources become accounts you see every day, which serves as a reminder to live sustainably. A great site to start with is The Good Trade. This online platform has social media accounts, blog posts, and a newsletter that centers around sustainable and holistic living. Consider looking on your own, too. There are hundreds of people blogging and posting about eco-friendly lifestyles and tips and tricks to help you make a lifestyle change that betters the world we call home.
Back to campus, but how different is it? Madeline Bundy Madeline is a junior converged journalism major. She is also a content creator for WSRU-TV News and a member of Jumpstart. We f in al l y g e t t o b e back in person, and everyone is back on c ampu s . Howe ve r, it’s n o t l ik e it w as b e f o re the pandemic. This begs the question: What is different, outside of mask we ar in g , an d c o u l d b e making it harder to g e t u s e d t o b e in g b ac k in pe r s o n ? A noticeable difference is the big tent in the Quad with folding tables a n d c h a i r s . Pe o p l e can sit outside and s t u d y, e a t , c a t c h u p with friends, or just take a break between classes. Students aren’t required to wear masks outside and the tables a r e s p r e a d o u t . Ho w comfortable is it to study in that space if you’re there for a long period of time between classes? Or when y o u’r e d o n e f o r t h e day, but not ready to go back to your dorm or house? It’s not too c o m f o r t a b l e i f yo u ' re t h e re l o n g e r t h a n 3 0 minutes to an hour. Yo u m a y s a y, w h a t about the librar y? Isn’t it open? Yes, it is, but you have to wear a
mask, and not everyone may be able to focus to their best ability while studying or taking a test online when they have to wear a mask while they study. Plus, if you're someone who uses disposable masks, ever y so often you may have to change your
everything went online, you could eat anywhere on the first floor of t h e l i b r a r y, o r o t h e r study rooms in the o t her bu i l di ngs w here classes take place. Now, yo u ca n o nl y ea t i n t h re e l o c a t i o n s i n t h e l i b r a r y, a n d t h e
"There are also many differences in dining locations. SRU still has Boozel and Weisenfluh Dining Halls, but the vendors have changed. A lot of people have noticed the difference in the quality and quantity of food. In previous years, Boozel had options for almost everyone. If you were vegan or vegetarian, you had the option to make a wrap at the wrap station, but that doesn;t seem to be an option this year. You can make a sandwich or salad, but there isnt a large variety of choices. Plus, the sandwich can't be toasted like in the past."
mask out. So, along with other costs that come up in college, you also have to spend additional money on more masks so t h a t yo u ' re f o l l ow i n g campus masking guidelines. Before the campus shut down and
study rooms in the c l a s s b u i l d i n g s d o n’t a l l ow f o o d o r d r i n k s a nymo re. Tw o o f t h e t h r e e places in the library a re t o o s ma l l a nd f i l l up too fast. One of t h e l o c a t i o n s d o e s n’t even have outlets, s o i f y o u’re s t u d y i n g
and getting a quick s na ck bet ween cl a s s es , h o p e f u l l y y o u d o n’t have to charge your laptop or phone for yo u r nex t cl a s s w hi l e yo u’re ea t i ng. There are also many differences in di ni ng l o ca t i o ns . SRU still has Boozel and We i s e n f l u h D i n i n g Ha l l s , bu t t he vendo rs ha ve cha nged. A l o t o f people have noticed t h e d i f f e re n c e i n t h e quality and quantity o f f o o d. In previous years, Boozel had options for almost everyone. If yo u were a vega n o r vegetarian, you had the o p t i o n t o ma ke a w ra p at the wrap station, bu t t ha t do es n’t s eem to be an option this y e a r. Yo u c a n m a k e a sandwich or salad, bu t t here i s n’t a l a rge variety of choices. Plus, the sandwich c a n’t b e t o a s t e d l i k e i n t he p a s t . Is this a result of the staff shortage in the dining locations, or is it because of the change in dining vendors from AV I Fo o d s y s t e m s t o Aramark Corporations? No t t o m e n t i o n , t h e wait time in all dining locations seems to be l o n g e r. B u t a g a i n , i s this due to short staff or the difference in vendo r? With the change in food vendors, people may be stuck getting the same thing time after time or forced to order food to campus from places like DoorDash and Uber Eats. This is one of the only ways to get different food options outside using meal plans that students pay for at the beginning o f e a c h s e m e s t e r.