Mississippi State University students and faculty came together Wednesday to take a “Stroll with the President,” picking up trash to help clean up the campus for homecoming. The volunteers organized on the steps of the Colvard Student Union, where they were outfitted with latex gloves and garbage bags. From there, they split into eight groups and spread out in all directions.
Contrary to the event’s name, MSU President Malcolm Portera could not attend, as he was suddenly called to Washington.
However, students enjoyed meeting and working alongside Olivia Portera, who expressed her husband’s disappointment at being unable to participate.
Vice President for Student Affairs Roy Ruby spoke in Portera’s absence.
“Don’t underestimate the importance of the appearance of the campus,” Ruby told the volunteers.
“You would be surprised to know how many entering freshmen, when asked why they chose MSU, list the appearance of the campus among their reasons,” Ruby said.
Besides the obvious goal of improving the appearance of the campus, Ruby said the cleanup effort would help students appreciate the beauty of the campus and remind students not to litter.
“As much as anything else, I think it serves to increase awareness,” he said.
Senior Sada Garcia, who coordinated the event, estimated over 300 people were involved. She organized the event as a service project for the Campus Outreach and Service Learning Center. Each member of Campus Outreach, which is sponsored by Americorps, is required to organize such a project.
“‘Stroll with the President’ will become an annual event. We are trying to make this something that happens every homecoming,” she said.
Garcia said she was pleased with the number of people who volunteered. She said that every Greek society was represented along with many other campus clubs and organizations. Although the event was targeted toward organizational participation this year, Garcia said she hopes more individuals and even more organizations will participate in coming years.
Each volunteer seemed to have his or her own reason for joining in the cleanup effort.
“I wanted to get around to meet everybody and make the campus look more beautiful for my parents when they come this weekend for homecoming,” Scott Mason, freshman, said.
CAB event chariman Diedra Tate led one of the eight groups.
“I think this shows unity on our campus,” she said. “It shows unity in one goal to get out, have fun and meet people.”
Juniors Kellye Branch and Courtney Walsh said they really enjoyed making the campus pretty and meeting new friends from different organizations.
Whatever their reason for joining, each volunteer worked hard, and their labor bore the fruits of a more beautiful campus, new friendships and an increased awareness of the importance of keeping the campus looking its best.