Whereas individuals affiliate commencement with caps and robes, it’s additionally develop into synonymous with elevated trash on UT’s campus. Because the semester ends, confetti, streamers and champagne corks gather round Littlefield Fountain from commencement photograph shoots.
Litter from commencement photograph shoots may be discovered on Essential Mall and different well-liked photograph locations round campus. Jim Carse, the College’s Panorama Providers Supervisor, mentioned his staff has taken steps to encourage graduates taking photos to scale back littering this semester.
Carse mentioned Panorama Providers manages the grounds across the fountain and the Six Pack, whereas the gardens on College Avenue are the duty of a contractor.
“The contractor providers these areas a number of occasions per week and is conscious of the rise in trash,” Carse mentioned in an electronic mail. “We additionally encourage the campus group to throw away trash in … receptacles to scale back litter within the space.”
Panorama Providers plans “to set out some extra trash and recycling receptacles labeled for champagne bottles, which has confirmed (to) assist in earlier years,” Carse mentioned.
Promoting senior Makayla Bryant mentioned she took images at Mary E. Gearing and Goldsmith Halls and Littlefield Fountain late March. Bryant mentioned she seen essentially the most litter close to Littlefield Fountain and within the gardens alongside College Avenue.
“There was simply confetti in every single place,” Bryant mentioned. “They might simply pop (the confetti) and depart. They’d pop the champagne, after which they simply (say), ‘I obtained my photograph, and I’m executed.’”
Bryant mentioned she didn’t discover extra trash cans or recycling bins close to Littlefield Fountain when she took her images. Regardless of this, Bryant mentioned she and her photographer “discovered an answer to the issue” and packed any rubbish away of their baggage.
“I really feel prefer it’s not a College drawback,” Bryant mentioned. “It’s a individuals drawback. If you happen to’re going to take images, have the widespread decency to choose up after your self.”
Yaneisi Arriaga, a speech, language and listening to science senior, mentioned she noticed essentially the most litter in Littlefield Fountain when she took her images final week. She mentioned there wasn’t a lot litter at different spots just like the Six Pack, Essential Mall or Goldsmith Corridor.
“The fountain was fairly messy,” Arriaga mentioned. “You even needed to be cautious once you obtained in to not step on champagne wires.”
Arriaga and Bryant each mentioned having an additional set of fingers made disposing of their rubbish a lot simpler. Arriaga mentioned she invited pals to assist her and the photographer.
“I simply tossed the (champagne cage) out to them,” Arriaga mentioned, “Then anyone would maintain it.”
Arriaga mentioned the College might embody reminders to choose up after photograph shoots within the many emails it sends to seniors making ready to graduate. Bryant mentioned a pleasant reminder may assist alleviate the issue.