Students urged to consider life Beyond Plastic
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Slippery Rock University tried to inspire future generations of non-plastic users Thursday.
A Beyond Plastic symposium was free and open to SRU students, faculty and staff, as well as more than 200 registered high school students and teachers from 10 local school districts.
Paul Scanlon, director of sustainability at SRU, said it's nice to see young people excited to make a difference, especially when it comes to plastic usage.
He said in addition to speakers and films, the students were exposed to their peers who put together tangible proof that alternatives to plastic as well as good recycling practices are available and better than ever.
Scanlon said the goal was not to sell products, but to introduce students to possibilities.
“The best bag is the one you already own, as long as you can reuse it,” he said.
Morgan Meyer of Newton Falls, Ohio, is a SRU junior studying exercise science.
Meyer and a few colleagues showcased recycled material that could be transformed into clothing.
“These are all shoes made out of recycled plastic bottles,” Meyer said, waving her hand toward a pair of shoes that looked like Converse, “and they don't feel any different from any other shoe.”
Andy Adamsky, a junior at SRU studying business, took a small silicon disk and placed it on a water bottle. He said the disk creates a better seal without using clinging plastic wrap.
“It keeps the food fresh and eliminates the plastics,” Adamsky said.
Christine Glenn, SRU professor, said many of the students have really taken a look at their own lives and considered their waste.
“As a collective force, in terms of day-to-day actions, we can make a positive change by being conscious about what we purchase and what we do with those items afterward,” Glenn said.
Madison Morgan of Saegertown, Pa., a freshman studying early education and special education said faculty and staff encouraged students to attend, and she was glad they did.
“It definitely makes you think about how much garbage you use,” Morgan said.
Stephanie Polach of Meadville, a freshman studying early education and special education, said she has always tried to use a reusable bottle. She said if the symposium can inspire a handful of people to change, then that could be enough to make a larger impact.
“If one person is doing it, other people are going to see that and want to do that too,” she said.
Mark Dixon, a filmmaker and environmental activist from Pittsburgh, showed multiple films and led lectures throughout the day.
“The students are showing a real thoughtfulness around environmental issues,” Dixon said.
One of the videos Dixon screened was a documentary called YERT, which stands for Your Environmental Road Trip.
Dixon co-produced the film with filmmaker Ben Evans.
“I'm impressed by the caliber of thought and the attentiveness of the students,” Dixon said.
