The SpringHillian Volume 111, Issue 3
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Recycling Grant in Jeopardy at SHC Reporter | Jessica Winter Spring Hill College’s recycling process is at stake due to lack of diligent recycling by students. About four years ago, The Greenkeepers, a student club on campus, received a grant and reached out to Easter Seals Gulf Coast, an organization incorporated with Goodwill, began picking up the recycling on campus. With that grant, they bought containers, which you see in every
academic building and outside of each residence hall, each color-coded so students know which item to recycle correctly. “In order for Easter Seals to continue to pick up our recycling, and to do so without charging us, they need our recycling to be free of any trash and to be separated into its different components,” said Dr. Bordas. This is where the color-coded containers come into play.
Younger women generally never consider themselves to be at risk for breast cancer. However, breast cancer can occur at any age, even those in college. With all the demands that come with being in college, maintaining good health is not always a top priority for college students and many often forget to complete regular self-exams. Additionally, when it comes to women who are in college a long distance from their home, regular exams may not be an option. According the Young Survival Coalition, a national organization that raises money to promote breast cancer awareness, nearly 80% of young women diagnosed with breast cancer find their abnormality themselves. Not having the option of having a specialist accessible nearby that they know and trust can put a large amount of stress on the
already existent stressful life of a college student. The Young Survival Coalition says, “in young women, breast cancer tends to be diagnosed in its later stages and be more aggressive. Young women also have a higher mortality rate and a higher risk of metastatic recurrence return of breast cancer in areas beyond the breast.” Not being able to have regular breast exams due to the fact that school is hours away from your doctor can be a hard concept for many to grasp. Brigid Brewer, a Senior from Dallas says “my anxiety would go through the roof if I were to find a lump on my chest and not be able to have it checked by my doctor right away.” Never knowing the alarming statistics of breast cancer among young adults her age, Riley McGreal, a sophomore from Chicago says, “I never really thought about it but that is an extremely scary and real concern to think about. Definitely making an appointment for when I get home.”
Which has a designated color specific to what items can go in them; green for glass, yellow for plastic, blue for aluminum and red for paper and cardboard. However, recently the labor that goes into separating the glass recycled items has become too high for Easter Seals to continue on. Within the next few months, students will notice one bin is missing. The ability to recycle glass items will no longer be an option on
campus. Dr. Bordas and the Greenkeepers encourage students to limit the usage of glass products and switch to paper, plastic or aluminum, as they are overall easier to recycle. A way for students to become more engaged in their recycling habits is to make sure the items they are placing in the recycling bins are clear of all food and liquid remnants. Many students aren’t aware that if an item they
are recycling has any leftover food or liquid on it, the item is no longer viable to recycle. The whole recycling bin may even be affected by these leftover remnants. Dr. Bordas mentioned that “part of the problem is that we want to recycle so much that we are starting to recycle things that are not recyclable.” To keep the recycling system in place on campus, students have to be aware of what they are recycling.
Promoting Self-Exams For College Students
Being far from your normal doctor is something a lot of students can relate to on Spring Hills campus. Morgan Hafer, a senior from Philadelphia says “if I had any concerns regarding my breast, I would probably go to a nearby doctor around Mobile, however, I would
still want the reassurance of knowing what my OB-GYN at homes opinion is and would visit her next time I go home.” Breast cancer is one of the most commonly known cancers, however, when it comes to the age groups who it affects, many are clueless. Young adults
and breast cancer are an unfortunate combination, but thankfully support is available. With it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is important to continue encouraging awareness among all men and women.