Student volunteers take time to Make a Difference

The University of Cincinnati sustainability event, Make a Difference Day, took place Saturday, Oct. 17, giving students a chance to step up and better their community.

Approximately 70 students participated in the event, which involved picking up trash in uptown neighborhoods and planting flowers.

“It’s always nice to see students taking care of their community,” said Derek Carson, a fourth-year electrical engineering student. “Especially freshmen who have hardly had time to unpack and are already giving back.”

The event was part of the national Make a Difference Day, which is supposed to take place on Oct. 24. The UC event took place a week early due to the homecoming game on Oct. 24.

“The volunteers really enjoyed helping out,” said Shawn Tubb, the UC sustainability coordinator. “Even with the cold we had a lot of fun.”

The volunteers split into teams that traveled to University Heights, Clifton Heights, Fairview and Corryville.

For four hours, the students picked up 346 pounds of trash and 232 pounds of recyclable material, Tubb said.

“We were ready to make a difference today,” said Matt Schnuth, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student.

The volunteers also planted 450 daffodil bulbs along Martin Luther King Drive, which will bloom in the spring.

“We had to make [the neighborhood] pretty for homecoming,” said Andrew Tomko, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student.

The event was sponsored by the President’s Advisory Council on Environment and Sustainability (PACES), re | UC and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.

PACES was established in June 2007 and works to promote projects and track sustainability efforts on campus, according to its Web site. The committee was created in response to former UC president Nancy Zimpher signing The American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful donated almost half of the daffodil bulbs while UC supplied the rest. The CUF Neighborhood Association had several members volunteering at the event as well.

Students who participated enjoyed themselves, despite the cold weather.

“I like cleaning up stuff and I do need the volunteer hours,” said Eileen Dolan, a second-year graphic design student. Students who participated could use the volunteer hours to fulfill scholarship requirements.

“I thought it was fun,” Carson said. “Volunteering at events like these is an easy way to help.”

For homecoming, PACES plans to collect recyclable materials throughout the day. Volunteers will be setting up recycling bins at tailgating events, during the football game and at the parade.