PIERCE COLLEGE : Students Take on Cleanup Duty

Pierce College students have initiated an Adopt-a-Campus litter removal program much like the Adopt-a-Highway program along California freeways.

Students and administration members have been enthusiastic about the program so far, said Saji Prelis, commissioner of the environment for the Associated Students Organization.

Prelis said he began the program this semester “because it is a good way for the clubs to be involved in keeping the campus clean and showing that the clubs have a voice on campus.”

Eleven campus clubs have signed up for the litter removal program so far.

Each of the volunteer clubs chooses an area on campus to keep clean for two weeks. The areas are then marked with signs bearing the name of the responsible club.

Prelis said the adopted areas are rotated every two weeks in an effort to maintain the enthusiasm and to keep the students from getting bored.

“Students lose interest as quickly as they become interested in a project. I want to keep the interest at a steady pace throughout the entire semester,” he said.

Prelis said he also hopes the program will carry over through the summer and into the fall semester.

“The students are just as interested now as in the beginning of the semester,” he said.

Parents Club President Comel Fulton agreed, but said: “The general student body needs to get involved; clubs cannot do it all themselves.”