Around the Ashland University campus, a growing cleanliness issue has sparked attention from many students and faculty. Trash bags left out by residences in the senior apartments, unsanitary restroom practices, as well as the public spaces in the dorm buildings becoming dirty at a quicker rate have left questions and concerns for not only other students, but the cleaning staff and faculty as well.
The dumpsters have been seen to be overflowing, despite the available space left. Trash bags have been seen being left by entrances of the senior apartments instead of being brought to the dumpster.
Rick Ewing, AU’s vice president of Operations and Planning, explained why this might happen.
He said, “It’s both the unawareness that the dumpster is larger and has compacity and the willingness to take out the trash.”
The state in which the dorm buildings are being left has also been brought to attention. Used feminine products being left in public showers along with unnecessary messes being left in elevators and staircases.
“My cleaning staff get frustrated,” said Ewing.
Residence Life as well as the athletic department has made an effort to talk to students and student athletes about their actions and how they are leaving these spaces.
“While there is a staff of cleaning faculty who go around and tidy up campus, I feel like there should be a growing concern over intentional unhealthy habits within our public spaces, like the restrooms,” Reese Knowles, an AU student and resident in one of the dorm buildings on campus said, “It seems like we’ve grown to stop taking care of the few things we are offered to us.”
While this issue in the cleanliness around campus has been pressing, it’s making its way towards a new beginning.
Kaylie Ellington, a service worker at AU, said these issues happened “for only two or three days and then stopped or at least wasn’t as bad.” With that being said, small things like cleaning up after yourself are still important.
While this issue has found a quiet resolution, it is still important to understand that the mess students leave behind still must be cleaned up by another person.
“I would just ask that people put themselves in other people’s position,” Ewing said, “It may be fun to create a mess, but just think about that individual who is working, trying to make a living, having to deal with the mess you made in your fun.”
Keeping AU campus clean and being respectful of the individuals who help keep our environment clean is important. Keeping a habit of cleaning up after yourself is important not only on campus, but off campus as well. Throw trash away, be respectful, and keep our space clean.
