By Paige Acklie, Agricultural Communications Experiential Learning Lab Reporter
The University of Arkansas Residents’ Interhall Congress (RIC) is promoting sustainability among students who live on campus through a public educational effort.
The campaign, which includes social media and printed materials, targets students and focuses on putting sustainability at the forefront of people’s minds. RIC’s educational efforts support efforts by the UA Office for Sustainability and Associated Student Government to promote campus sustainability.
“One of the main things we try to do around here is not only put new policies into place, but actually change the culture, to change the way that people think, the way people behave and act, and the way they generally view sustainability as a whole,” said Kenneth Hamilton, Director of Sustainability for RIC.
Hamilton posts monthly blog articles on the University Housing and RIC websites to highlight topics of interest related to campus sustainability. These articles are also posted on the RIC’s social media accounts.
“I talk about things like ‘what can we do as students to be more sustainable,’ ‘what can we do to help the world out’ or ‘what is sustainability,’” said Hamilton.
The target group of this campaign is college students, said Hamilton, since they have the greatest potential in making a difference.
“I’m trying to educate the populace, the people on campus, and the students because we are the future. Maybe I can’t reach out the older generations as much, but if we start here, that can make a big effect and flourish,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton works with a committee of about 20 people, and together they develop flyers and posters to educate students living in residence halls on ways to be sustainable.
“We create flyers and put them up around residence halls or in the Union, telling people things like ‘take a two-minute shorter shower, and that can make a difference in the long run’ or ‘don’t forget to turn off your lights.’ It’s small things that matter,” said Hamilton.
In addition to focusing on reducing electricity and water consumption, RIC is also working to promote alternate means of transportation.
“We’re trying to advertise to students that they can bring a bike to campus. Riding a bike instead of driving a car has many benefits, including saving gas money, better parking, and in addition the release of CO2 emissions will be less,” said Hamilton.
RIC hosts several competitions within the residence halls throughout the academic year—Campus Conservation Nationals and Recycle Mania. Also, a new event, Small Steps Big Wins, will begin this spring.
The RIC’s sustainability goals and strategies are aligning with the UA’s goals of zero-waste and carbon neutrality. Hamilton is part of the Office for Sustainability Leadership Program and is also joined by Cameron Baker, Director of Sustainability for the Associated Student Government.
For more information or to learn more about the campus sustainability campaign, please contact Kenneth Hamilton via email at klhamilt@uark.edu