Summer 2006 -- Vol. 59, No. 3

'Solid Green: Keep Clemson Clean'

It is remarkable how many times the Clemson campus is described with the adjective “beautiful.” What makes Clemson so beautiful? It is the trees, contours, vistas, outdoor rooms and sunsets over Lake Hartwell. Our vision for the campus is for it to be a garden.

The large canopies of the massive hardwoods bring a measure of relief from the August sun. Azaleas, dogwoods and all but the most drought-tolerant perennials have spent their flowers and are setting blooms for next year’s show. Lawns have survived the heat and are now getting ready for the real test — foot traffic from nearly 17,000 returning students.

Because of the lower population and the scarcity of major events, summer also tends to be one of the “cleanest” times of the year in terms of litter. This year, we hope to keep it that way as we kick off a litter awareness campaign called “Solid Green: Keep Clemson Clean.” You’ll see and hear that slogan often this year as you return to campus. You may see special announcements on Paw- Vision at football games, volunteers picking up litter after the First Friday Parade, or “adopt-a-spot” signs designating areas being maintained by student groups.

The litter campaign is the latest in a long line of efforts to make Clemson environmentally friendly and sustainable. The University’s recycling programs have kept over 5,000 tons of materials out of landfills and saved more than 10,000 trees.

Through the “Lighten Your Load” program, which encourages students to donate rather than discard items when they vacate campus housing, more than 6,500 pounds of clothing and household items, 3,500 pounds of nonperishable food items and several flatbed truckloads of loft lumber have been relocated to area charities.

Members of Students for Environmental Awareness have distributed bags to tailgaters to gather materials for recycling. Recycling bins are also stationed at a number of locations around the stadium.

But we can do more.

Our custodial and grounds staffs do a tremendous job, but they need our help. This is a campaign that can use 100 percent participation. We can start with the three key messages delivered by Palmetto Pride, the statewide antilitter organization: “Take pride, take responsibility and take action.”

Members of the Clemson family are known for taking pride in their university and their athletic teams. Let’s be equally proud of having a clean campus. Take personal responsibility for keeping your surroundings litter-free. And finally, take action: Don’t walk past a discarded can or wrapper. Stop and pick it up. And let other people see you doing it.

Clemson is blessed with a beautiful campus and natural surroundings. It sits on the shores of Lake Hartwell at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by its own 20,000-acre forest and home to the S.C. Botanical Garden.

As an architect, I value its “outdoor rooms” and natural sense of community. But when I set out to sketch a new campus setting, I sometimes find the scenic view marred by carelessly tossed cigarette butts, fast-food wrappers and soft drink cans.

One of Clemson’s goals is to “Maintain an environment that is healthy, safe and attractive.” Help us achieve that goal by having zero tolerance for litter.

James F. Barker, FAIA
President