Last week’s make-up SGA Senate meeting had a light agenda; however, one thing proved to show its importance among the representatives of the student body—recycling.

Lance Brass, Josh Isbell and Matt Davis addressed SGA Thursday night to share information on how UTM is and will continue to help the environment.

Isbell said that UTM is the source of a lot of garbage and waste. However, UTM does not have to stay in this position. Isbell continued by saying that approximately 80 percent of the garbage on campus could be recycled. While recycling on campus is already taking place, it could get better. This massive recycling program cannot evolve and grow without the help of students.

“On average each year, our campus has 140 tons worth of recycling for just cardboard and paper. That’s a lot,” Isbell said. Once collected, this recycled material gets taken to a local recycling center.

Recycling is a great opportunity for all to get involved in helping the environment. Recycling has been taking place on this campus; however, it is essential for more people to get involved and help the UTM campus enviroment.

Isbell said that students could get involved in many ways. One of the obvious ways is to simply dispose of your waste in the proper areas. Several recycling bins have been placed all over campus for paper and cans. Those students who live on campus can also recycle right in their residence halls, as Director of Housing Earl Wright just agreed to put more recycling receptacles in the basements of the dorms.

Isbell is also going to try to make the recycling process more fun. Isbell wishes to have a recycling competition among the Greek organizations during Greek Week. While those who recycle the most will win, it is the environment that will ultimately win.

Isbell told all present at the SGA Senate meeting about the new environmentalist club on campus. He said that it is a great way to help our campus and encourages all to attend at noon on Wednesdays in UC Room 125.

Matt Davis also said that University Village has been having some trash problems due to the absence of several trashcans outside. Davis talked to Director of Physical Plant Tim Nipp who said that he would take care of it. Two more trashcans will be added to University Village.

In other news, SGA President James Orr commended the Multicultural Affairs Committee on the outstanding job they did on Diversity week. “They’re doing a fantastic job,” Orr said. Orr also said that the next Senate meeting would consist of what SGA has accomplished.

Constitutional Review changes will go to the Senate on March 1, 2007.

The next SGA Senate meeting will take place in regular session at 9 p.m. this Thursday in UC 111. As always, all studnets and staff of UTM are welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting.