PARTIAL PLASTIC BAN PROPOSED TO STUDENT SENATE

A collection of students from over ten different clubs pitched a partial plastic ban proposal for the Stockton University main campus during a full Student Senate meeting on February 25. Their proposal demanded a switch from single-use plastic food containers to single-use disposable, biodegradable containers for salads, sandwiches, and snacks. This ban would not affect utensils, cups, bags, etc. as of now. The group presented a petition signed by over 300 students, although the official number needed to petition the Senate is 500. But the Senate agreed that this switch was imperative.   Ben Dziobek, 19, President of the Environmental Club, spoke on behalf of students at the meeting and discussed several alternatives to the packaging currently used on Stockton’s main campus, including numerous cheaper options. One option, a biodegradable sugarcane container, was formerly used on campus at N-Wing Dining Hall for a limited time. However, the student activists did not know why their use was discontinued. Stockton University works directly with Chartwells Food Service on its main campus, and it is unknown at this time whether Chartwells is willing to make the switch demanded by the students as they have not responded for comment. The proposal was met with a majority of support from the Senate. It is expected to be formalized by the Senate as a resolution to be voted on during the next full Student Senate meeting on March 31 to be put into effect fall semester of 2020. “It’s really important that we reduce not only our plastic on campus but in general, just because the amount of plastic that is in landfills and the ocean is starting to accumulate to the point that we really need to start getting it down,” said Heather Bariso, 19, Membership Director of the Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment. “I think with Stockton being a ‘green school’ it’s important that they start this movement where we start to reduce the amount of plastic on campus,” she said. The full list of clubs supporting the proposal is as follows: Environmental Club, Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment, Marine Technology Science, Art Club, Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society, Chemistry Society, Geology Club, Asian Student Alliance, Marine Science Club, Biochemistry Society, Community Garden Club, Aquarium and Aquaculture Club, Water Watch, and the Plant Based Society.