Two new student-led initiatives at The University of Southern Mississippi aim to improve the cleanliness of the Fourth Street Parking Garage, with one involving the Student Government Association (SGA) and the other led by a freshman in the Luckyday Scholars Program.
The SGA Senate recently passed legislation focused on enhancing waste management in the Fourth Street Parking Garage. The legislation calls on the USM physical plant to “install additional waste receptacles and increase the frequency of waste removal” to prevent overflowing trash cans, reduce litter, and ensure the facility's overall cleanliness. SGA shared the approval of Senate Resolution Three of the Fall 2024 session on Instagram on Feb. 19. The post, which includes documentation of the legislation, is publicly available.
“I think that'll be helpful for the cleanliness,” said USM freshman Anna Gautreaux, who noted that she has seen overflowing trash in the garage since starting as a student. “There’s only one trash can on each floor right now, so I feel like if there were even two or three, that would help significantly.”
In addition to SGA’s efforts, a student cleanup project, led by the Luckyday Scholars Program and the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), will target the parking garage. IDS hosts a Community Volunteer Club every Tuesday, and this cleanup project will combine its members with Luckyday volunteers from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 18, 25, March 11, 18, 25, and April 1 and 8. All students are invited to participate, regardless of their involvement with IDS or Luckyday, for as long as they can during the scheduled time.
“IDS’ goal in all of this is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to volunteer and be a part of something,” said USM senior and Social Work major Camryn Thompson, an intern at IDS.
She added that if Senate Resolution Three proves effective, the cleanup project will expand to other areas on campus.
“We’re definitely looking for volunteers,” she said. “We make sure everyone’s safe by providing them with trash grabbers and bright vests.”
The service project originated from Cameron White, a freshman in the Luckyday program, who proposed the idea during a group project for his Luckyday class last semester. While students were graded solely on their service ideas, White chose to take the next step by implementing his project.
These initiatives highlight how USM students are actively working to improve their campus environment, with efforts like SGA’s Senate Resolution Three and White’s “Spring Cleaning Project” setting an example for others.
