Living eco conscious has taken over Northern California culture like an 80’s pop culture phenomenon. This trend is spreading its influence throughout CSU students and local government alike, inspiring likeminded people who are anxious to see action towards changes. Its no longer the local government who capitalize progress in their respected communities, a new wave of activity is popping up from students who are passionate about improving the life style and conditions around campus communities.
Mac Hart(pictured above), an ENSP student at Sonoma State has presented three separate petitions aimed at reducing Sonoma State’s carbon footprint. Hart’s petitions include questioning whether or not “synthetic fertilizers and pesticides should be banned from the main SSU campus,” encouraging the use of different landscaping practices and materials in an effort to start using sustainable products.
Hart’s main push is to restrict the “sale of and use of University funds to purchase bottled water.” The student incentive toward this seemingly wild request is to encourage students to start carrying a water canteen essentially saving students money by not having to buy bottled water.
The overall goal is to stop Sonoma State from contributing to the excessive waste produced by water bottles. Hart’s last petition is trying to eliminate “the use of petroleum-based plastic check-out bags be banned from all SSU campus venues” which asks students to bring their own bags or for University venues to start using a more sustainable product to bag purchased items. The passing of these petitions is essential to the progression towards an “eco-friendly” community.
After consulting the ASP offices, Hart approached new territory for students by attempting to successfully put bills on an election ballot without requiring an office, a vote from a council of students or any advisors, a feat that has never been done by any Sonoma State Student before.
He is required to collect nine hundred signatures for each of his three proposed petitions describing essential improvements towards the campus’ position on promoting an eco-conscious community for students, faculty and administration.
“It’s going to be a lifestyle change,” said Hart. If implemented, students can save a quick dollar and can rest easy knowing that they are not contributing to the millions of bottles floating in the ‘trash island’ in the middle of the pacific.
“Sonoma has talked big about their sustainability methods and it’s time to see action toward realizing those methods,” said Hart. By crowd sourcing and speaking to students in classes, Hart is close to obtaining his required nine hundred signatures and as Hart inches towards being able to implement his ideas, he hasn’t lost sight of his motivation.
“I don’t want to explain to my kids that I lived through the destruction and did nothing but contribute to the problem,” said Hart. He wants to make sure that he could say he did something. If you want to do something and contribute either your signature or help collect others please email Mac Hart at hartm@seawolf.sonoma.edu.