With over 150 members, EcoPledge has joined the ranks of the most popular BC activities. Young attributes this to the way the club's focus has shifted over the past few years. With the addition of six committees, each person can find an element of environmental protection for which they are best suited and can work together to get the message out. "I've enjoyed taking the growth of the club to a social level," she said. "You get to meet other people who are interested in the same things as you. When you work with people who share common interests and do the sorts of things you enjoy, you can make a difference."That difference is now visible throughout campus. A welcome treat this fall was the weekly farmer's market in front of Corcoran Commons to support local produce.
Last year, the campus-wide Better Off Contest encouraged each hall to compete in conserving the most energy. Currently, recycling totes are in a trial run; Cava proposed that these reusable bags get handed out on Upper Campus and in Ignacio Hall to increase the proper disposal of bottles and cans.
Group efforts such as these have had great success, but individual members can get the information out just as effectively.
Lauren Tuccelli, A&S '10, has tried to get her friends involved in the move toward sustainable living. "Over the past month, we were preparing for the annual Harvest Fest," she said. "We were asked to collect empty cereal cartons, so I told all of my roommates to rinse them out and give them to me. I bought a recycle bin for our kitchen which we use all the time now to recycle our bottles and cans. I also usually try to bug everyone about shutting their lights off."
From the recycling receptacles outside to the light switch reminders in the residence halls, EcoPledge's collaborations with BC Conserves, ResLife, and Facilities have made a mark. "They seem small, but things like turning off your lights and filling up a Nalgene bottle instead of buying Dasani do make a difference," Young said. "The important thing is to do it not because someone tells you to, but because you understand what it means."
Spring Break
