Emma Edwards has to think outside the box to conquer an ironic challenge in expanding student awareness about the Syracuse University Sustainability Club.

‘It is difficult since we can’t just put up posters — that is not sustainable,’ said Edwards, a freshman policy studies major and the club’s president.

One of the ways members plan to raise awareness is by hosting events, such as a water taste test held in the Schine Student Center on Feb. 20. During the event, club members offered unmarked samples of bottled water, tap water and filtered tap water to students and asked which sample they liked best.

Edwards said she considered the event to be a huge success. More than half the participants preferred the taste of tap or filtered tap water.

In addition to events, Edwards said the club plans on using Internet resources like Facebook to spread its message, as opposed to distributing leaflets on campus. Club members hope to encourage people to come to meetings and think about issues of sustainability, she said.

Though increasing and retaining membership has been a challenge since Edwards first started the Sustainability Club last fall, she said the club has come a long way.

‘At first, we did not have goals or structure, and membership fluctuated greatly at each meeting. Now, we have set goals and given ourselves deadlines to meet them,’ she said. ‘We have elected positions and a core group of members who are dedicated to the club.’

Although the club’s primary focus is to eliminate water bottle use, Edwards said the group plans on branching out into other issues.

‘Decreasing the use of plastic water bottles on campus involves a lot of work. Once we have met our goals and increased in membership, we can begin to focus on other issues on campus such as recycling or awareness,’ she said.

The club, which works closely with the SU Sustainability Division, is not yet recognized by the Student Association, but Edwards said there are plans to become a registered student organization in the fall.

Dan Olken, an industrial design major and member of the club, joined at the beginning of this semester. He said he thinks other students should join because environmental issues are becoming more and more crucial as the environment worsens.

Max Perrin, a sophomore civil engineering major, has been a member since the club’s inception. He said he is excited that the club is starting to make progress and sees great potential in it.

‘We’re an easygoing group that would love anybody and everybody to join,’ he said. ‘The possibilities are endless. The more interest we get, the more likely we are to make big changes on campus.’

nxsmith@syr.edu

Published on February 29, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Nick: nxsmith@syr.edu