2008 Woodie Awards
Marist Recycling - What it really means to commingle
Alissa Brew
Issue date: 3/4/04 Section: Opinion
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The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines commingle as a verb that means to mix together; to mix in one mass, or to blend. According to some Marist students, Merriam-Webster is way off.
When I asked several students (who I am pretty sure weren't fashion majors) what the word commingle means, they stared blankly at me like I had just talked to them in Japanese. Several made failing attempts to define the word. One student remarked that it sounded like a sexual disease. Another person said it was an animal. I even went so far as to ask a custodian at Marist what commingle means and even he had a hard time guessing what it could be.
Hopefully Marist's newly implemented recycling program can better define the term as it begins to place bins around campus labeled commingles to collect recyclable material from students and faculty.
Having read a press release that gave "A short history of recycling at Marist College" (short or nonexistent?), I found out that Marist campus recycles an astonishing 25 percent (please note the sarcasm) of its garbage. Maybe the best thing for Marist to do would be to change the signs to "recyclables" instead of "commingles." I get a feeling that the students might be standing in front of the bin in their Adidas sandals scratching their heads in wonder as they stare at the sign that says commingles.
Another problem is that the bins themselves need to be emptied more often or be replaced by bigger receptacles. On more than one occasion, I have gone to put recyclables in the proper container and could only accomplish such a feat if I was a champion Jenga player.
Although, I will give credit where credit is due. I have noticed more blue containers around the campus. What I haven't noticed are posters around campus promoting the new organization SEED (Students Encouraging Environmental Education). How can they promote a campaign for recycling if the environmental group can't even promote themselves?
Don't think that all the blame should be placed on the administration. The housekeeping staff might have an easier time discerning what bin the recyclables are in if every single one of them wasn't filled with garbage along with plastic bottles and newspapers.
When I asked several students (who I am pretty sure weren't fashion majors) what the word commingle means, they stared blankly at me like I had just talked to them in Japanese. Several made failing attempts to define the word. One student remarked that it sounded like a sexual disease. Another person said it was an animal. I even went so far as to ask a custodian at Marist what commingle means and even he had a hard time guessing what it could be.
Hopefully Marist's newly implemented recycling program can better define the term as it begins to place bins around campus labeled commingles to collect recyclable material from students and faculty.
Having read a press release that gave "A short history of recycling at Marist College" (short or nonexistent?), I found out that Marist campus recycles an astonishing 25 percent (please note the sarcasm) of its garbage. Maybe the best thing for Marist to do would be to change the signs to "recyclables" instead of "commingles." I get a feeling that the students might be standing in front of the bin in their Adidas sandals scratching their heads in wonder as they stare at the sign that says commingles.
Another problem is that the bins themselves need to be emptied more often or be replaced by bigger receptacles. On more than one occasion, I have gone to put recyclables in the proper container and could only accomplish such a feat if I was a champion Jenga player.
Although, I will give credit where credit is due. I have noticed more blue containers around the campus. What I haven't noticed are posters around campus promoting the new organization SEED (Students Encouraging Environmental Education). How can they promote a campaign for recycling if the environmental group can't even promote themselves?
Don't think that all the blame should be placed on the administration. The housekeeping staff might have an easier time discerning what bin the recyclables are in if every single one of them wasn't filled with garbage along with plastic bottles and newspapers.