Plymouth State Helps Clean Up Community with “Big Pile Up” Event

November 29th, 2012 by blyndes

Plymouth, N.H. –A large pile of trash-filled bags in the middle of a college campus isn’t usually the image people associate with a success story, but Plymouth State University embraces it. Why? Because the trash has been collected from every corner of the Plymouth community by PSU students, staff and faculty in an effort to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives here. On November 29, PSU’s ‘Big Pile Up” event put an exclamation point on the community clean-up effort, with PSU Assistant Professor Jeremiah Duncan leading the way. After months of picking up trash on daily walks, the Plymouth resident organized other people to join him in an effort collectively known as “The Big Pile-Up,” which culminated with all of the collected trash being dumped in a pile in front of the Hartman Union Building as a tangible demonstration of their commitment to reducing litter and improving the community.

Dozens of bags of trash collected from around the town of Plymouth are displayed on Alumni Green as part of "The Big Pile Up" event. Nearly 100 students helped pick up litter to help beautify the community.

“I think this is really about changing attitudes and culture,” Duncan said. “Even if it’s one person at a time going out and picking up trash it can make a difference. I hope that students will begin to see the effects their presence has on the town and will take ownership of that and will want to leave the town a nicer place than it was when they got here.”

Duncan estimates the “The Big Pile Up” and several other litter collection events in the past year have removed hundreds of bags of trash from the streets, green spaces and sidewalks of the town. PSU senior Amanda Bakalar noted the litter cleanup effort is a great idea.

“It’s a good feeling knowing that you’re helping out the community, even one bag is making a difference,” said Bakalar, an Early Childhood Studies major.

Nearly 100 students took part in “The Big Pile Up.”

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu

Posted in |

In the News

Example Image

(D) Princeton Review Names Plymouth State University One of Nation’s Greenest Colleges (228)

Published Date Friday, 17 May 2013 11:05 PLYMOUTH — Plymouth State University’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability has led to its being named among North America’s greenest colleges. The 2013 Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges is an in-depth look at the most environmentally friendly institutions of higher learning. The Princeton Review, in collaboration [...]

Example Image

Plymouth State speaker tells grads to ‘Become agents of change’

By DAN SEUFERT PLYMOUTH – Standing at the podium in front of nearly 1,400 of her fellow graduates, Class of 2013 president Stephanie Melo looked up to the bright blue sky and reached her hand into the warm spring breeze. “Life is like the ice storm we had in April,” Melo said. “Look what happened [...]

Example Image

Appalachian Mountain Club, Plymouth State University Sign Memorandum of Understanding

PSU President Sara Jayne Steen, left, and AMC President John D. Judge at AMC’s Highland Center at Crawford Notch for the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The document details continued coordination and collaboration to advance their respective missions, while helping both institutions make a positive impact on the region’s environment, economy, communities, and people.  [...]