Named the greenest college campus in Alabama by The Princeton Review's 2014 Guide to Green Colleges earlier this semester, Auburn University is known for implementing sustainable practices and resources, such as Weagle Water, on-campus recycling and the removal of Styrofoam products. Auburn extended its sustainability efforts to include more specific campus areas through the Adopt-A-Spot program.
The program involves certain locations around campus individuals or groups can adopt and maintain. Since the program's launch in October, 16 groups and seven individuals have adopted a spot on campus.
According to the Adopt-A-Spot official website, the program is a collaborative effort between the Office of Sustainability, Landscape Services, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Department, the Administrative and Professional Assembly Welfare Committee, Staff Council, SGA and Graduate Student Council.
Amy Strickland, Adopt-A-Spot committee member from the Office of Sustainability, contributed to the initial logistics of the program.
"We hope to see it help to kindle a sense of community among different groups on campus," Strickland said. "Overall, I believe the program helps build that culture of sustainability at Auburn."
James Smith, junior in electrical engineering and vice president of Auburn for Water, maintains the upper quad with his organization.
"Although it is upsetting to see how much litter is casually tossed around our campus, it excites me to see both our group and other campus groups take the initiative to help keep our campus clean," Smith said. "Seeing students clean up after one another really solidifies the idea of the Auburn Family."
Michael Freeman, chair of staff council for Adopt-A-Spot, adopted the Auburn Research Park area and along South College Street with Environmental Management and the Water Resources Institute.
"It gives us a chance to get out of our normal routine and improve teamwork and interaction while helping keep out campus free of litter," Freeman said.
Interested parties can request a spot by following the guidelines on the Adopt-A-Spot website.
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