In light of their recent sustainability successes, Alana Boyles, President and Founder of The University of Tampa’s Roots & Shoots Chapter, sat down with Her Campus UT and gave us insight into one of UT’s newest organizations.
What is Roots & Shoots?
AB: Roots & Shoots is an international organization created by the Jane Goodall Foundation that focuses on conservation in three main areas: the environment, community, and animals. One of the main beliefs of Jane Goodall and her Foundation is that people won’t start caring about the environment until they are cared for, so there is a lot of emphasis put on the community aspect because the community’s needs must be met first before they’ll be able to focus on conserving their environment.
How Did You Learn About this Organization?
AB: I actually learned about Roots & Shoots when Jane Goodall came to speak at USF this past September and sign her most recent book. She gave her usual History of Gombe presentation along with promotion for her new book, and then she closed with the mention of Roots & Shoots, and that was the first I heard of it.
When Did Roots & Shoots Come to UT?
AB: Jane Goodall’s presentation moved me so much that I knew I had to create a Roots & Shoots here at UT, so I talked with a few people who also went to the presentation and we decided that UT was incomplete without a Roots & Shoots program. The very next morning I went to O.S.L.E. and within a week Roots & Shoots became a registered organization on campus.
What are the Goals of UT’s Roots & Shoots?
AB: Our overall goals mirror those of the International Roots & Shoots conglomerate, so we strive to make a positive impact on our community, the environment, and animals. Currently, our goals are to get more students actively involved in sustainability from a wider range of majors, not just those biologically based. We are working closely with Student Government’s sustainability committee to implement single-stream recycling bins in every trash room, on every floor, in every dorm. We are also discussing with Biology and Chemistry professors the practicality of recycling bins in all of the laboratories.
As far as animals are concerned, we established a scholarship program with the Tampa Audubon Society (TAS) that provides one year TAS membership to interested organization members free of charge. The main focus of TAS is the preservation of Tampa’s natural aviary life, and we contribute to this via the creation of and involvement in the Tampa Audubon Society’s Student Committee. We are a committee comprised of University students from the greater Tampa Bay area that work alongside TAS members to broaden their outreach and affects.
Our most recent achievement is in the community sector with the creation of a medication bottle recycling program in partnership with the Dickey Health and Wellness Center. Now students can take empty liquid and pill bottles to the front desk attendant for recycling. Next semester we hope to reduce the waste created by the use of unrecyclable to-go items and extend our sustainability practices outside of the UT community into that of Downtown Tampa.
Is There Anything Else You’d Like to Add?
AB: We have our Special Presenter Circuit (SPC) starting up spring semester which is really exciting. The first meeting of every month will showcase a different community member involved in one of the Roots & Shoots project areas. We have a bird of prey specialist starting off our SPC on February 2nd, followed by several veterinarians, a conservationist, and the founder of Dogma Pet Rescue. Our success as an organization hinges on student involvement and we’d love to see more members from a variety of backgrounds at our weekly meetings. You don’t have to be a science major to be a steward of the earth.
Roots & Shoots meets Every Monday at 8:00pm in Plant Hall 220. (This meeting time extends through spring 2015 Semester)
If you are interested in joining Roots & Shoots or have any questions, Alana Boyles can be contacted via email at alana.boyles@spartans.ut.edu