We mean your Mother Earth that is. Welcome to the paper recycling, plastic reusing, water conserving world of the Green Society. This eco-friendly organization has been at UTSA about five semesters. Striving to make a difference in the environment, the Green Society attempts to influence public policy regarding the environment and dedicates its members and time to community service.

Club President and Junior Environmental science major Lacy Guaderrama remembers the reason she sought out the Green Society when she first came to UTSA. “I liked the things the society stood for on campus,” Guaderrama, said.

Through the semesters, the Green Society has grown substantially. The number of members now reaches the thirties. Always willing to educate UTSA students, the Green Society has planned numerous events for the fall semester. On Oct. 21, from 5 to 9 p.m., the club, along with help from Aramark and the recycling program, will host “Sustainability Day” at the Roadrunner Café. Students will be exposed to various opportunities to sample locally grown organic foods, learn about the recycling program, and gain information about the Green Society.

Besides “Sustainability Day”, Green Society is also planning a recycled material sculpture competition, where participants can exhibit their creativity by creating sculptures using recyclable materials given by the UTSA recycling program. Creators of the best sculptures will be awarded a prize, and the sculptures will be used as decorations for “Sustainability Day.” While no date and location are currently set, Guaderrama estimates that the competition will take place in roughly two weeks.

Green Society will also take part in Texas Recycle Day at Woodlawn Park on Nov. 14. UTSA, along with other Texas schools, such as St. Mary’s university,
Trinity university and San Antonio College, will  host a Jeapordy game aimed at high school students that’s meant to promote environmental awareness. Green Society will have informational booths about the club during the event.

As the eco-friendly environmental movement gains momentum, many students wonder how they can stay Green.  Guaderrama suggests students become informed about their decisions towards the environment. The first step toward “going green” is to educate oneself. Students should ignore false go-green advertisements that in reality aren’t green at all. Researching various ways on how to preserve the environment in today’s world is as easy as clicking search on Google.

The Green Society does not advocate specific products; they do persuade students to become informed on the products they buy. Guaderrama warns students to watch out for false greenwashing advertisements.

Many companies practice “Greenwashing.” Greenwashing refers to the unjustified appropriation of environment virtue by a company in order to portray an eco-friendly image to appeal to consumers or to rejuvenate their image after a damaging controversy.
Companies advertise their products as “green” when most of the products were produced through enivronment harming methods. A “green” pad of paper might have come from sustainably registered trees but been milled in an ancient, carbon-dioxide emitting mill that still uses dioxin-producing chlorine to bleach the pulp.

A few simple rules of thumb for detecting “greenwashing,” follow the money trail, follow the paper trail, look for skeletons in the company’s closet, Test for access to information, check how the company handles their critics, and test for consistency over time.
If students were to express their desire for more eco-friendly products and services then the university may listen and respond.

Students were asked how they helped the environment and what they could do to better the environment. 

Freshmen communication major Christian Navarrete said, “I try to not litter even if it is a small gum wrapper.” When asked how he could help inform his fellow peers to become environmentally concise, Navarrete affirms that he should encourage students to stop littering.

Even at home students attempt to help the environment by recycling. freshmen undeclared major Meagan Acuna said, “My family and I recycle plastic, aluminum, cardboard, and glass.” The only problem she sees is the lack of space in each recycle bin since the bins are meant to be picked up at the end of each week. The typical recycle bin is about two feet high and four feet wide, not merely enough to withhold every recyclable object of a whole week.

“Back in California, our recycle bins would be the same size as the big trash bins,” Acuna said. Although changing the size of the city’s recycling bins may seem a bit ambitious, a small gesture of recycling.

The Green Society also works closely with the Recycling Program on campus. Located throughout campus are blue recycle bins ranging from bins that hold aluminum, plastic, and glass to larger bins that hold paper and cardboard.

UTSA also recycles depleted toner cartridges and depleted batteries. Even though these efforts are minuscule, UTSA strives to make a change.

The Green Society  meets every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m., and all other news related to the club is posted on their HSS bulletin board. Guaderrame states, “I encourage students from all majors and backgrounds to get involved in the Green Society,”