Written by Tristan Lueck
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
As the school year comes to a close, everyone is rushing around trying to finish studying, complete last minute projects and papers, and then pack and move out for the summer. If you happen to live in one SCAD’s residence halls, the doors close on May 30, only one day after the end of finals.
Obviously this isn’t enough time for the busy student to successfully pack everything they’ve got. And more often than not, some of the beautiful, or not so beautiful, artistic creations they’ve made throughout the year get left behind. It’s always around this time of year that I notice trashcans heaping with some amazing artwork. It’s all crammed in with the food we can’t finish and the pads of paper we don’t care enough about to recycle.
Recycling at SCAD is something that needs to be expanded. Not just for paper or plastic or glass, but for art and clothing and materials as well. More recycling bins could easily be provided and placed at more frequent intervals. In the area around my dorm, the one recycling container we have is already filled the weekend before move out. While it’s emptied as fast as it can be, it would be easier to just have another one or two around. But even still, would two containers for a floor of 40 people be enough, even if the containers were large? I doubt it. And those containers are only for recyclable materials, not for anything that could be donated.
SCAD already provides blue Goodwill bins at the entrance to every dorm for students to donate their unwanted belongings. They’re usually filled with stained pillows and pieces of clothing that range in size from extra small to extra small. The bins are a good step in the right direction, but what about the food that everyone throws out? It wouldn’t be too difficult to add a bin for uneaten, untouched food. The Jen Library already has a canned food drive at the end of the Winter Quarter, but it would be much more successful if it were to take place right before people move out. Most of the students at this school don’t even live in Georgia, and all the food that they can’t take with them will go to waste. An extra box right next to the Goodwill one could help some family in Savannah get a meal.
Food is not the only thing that SCAD could donate. Abandoned art pieces could be gifted to local children’s hospitals. And that handful of colored pencils that some senior student no longer has any use for, it could be gifted as well. As could the paint tubes from a freshmen fresh out of color theory.
At the beginning of May, SCAD donated some brand new art supplies to a local elementary school. The students were overjoyed, but I don’t think they would care if their materials were a bit used. SCAD has already set a precedent for this kind of donation; it wouldn’t be too hard to continue.
With only a few more days remaining in this quarter, I’m sure everyone is thinking about home. But we can’t forget about the community we’re leaving behind. After all, most of us will be back in just a few short months.
