Spartan green may mean more than just school spirit.
A recent study found universities and colleges are being more environmentally sound.
In the report by the National Wildlife Federation, 60 percent of the campuses surveyed works to use less and less pesticides by careful location of plants.
Gary Parrott, manager of Grounds Maintenance, said environmental practices are common with the grounds crew.
Parrott said the university has a mixture of native plants and some exotic plants.
By using the native plants, water is conserved. Exotic plants may need more or less water to survive.
“We also spread organic fertilizers as much as possible,” he said.
Parrott said while pesticides are used on campus, the chemicals are used as safely as possible.
But outdoors are not the only areas environmental practices are used.
The study also showed half of the schools surveyed have programs supporting the faculty’s professional development on environmental topics.
Syed Hashsham, professor of environmental engineering, said there is a greater balance between nature and man and how the natural process can be used to benefit humans.
“It used to be whatever waste is generated is dumped into the ground or the air and it was said that is not my problem,” Hashsham said.
But today colleges and universities are working to teach students what can have bad impacts on the environment, he said.
“The word environment has a home in everybody’s science,” Hashsham said.
But some students haven’t seen the increased awareness in the classroom.
Telecommunication senior Charles Armstrong said he couldn’t remember having environmental issues taught in one of his classes.
“I don’t know, I have been here a long time and I can’t think of anything,” he said.
Material science engineering freshman Adam King said he hasn’t seen a push to be more environmentally conscious other than the recycle bins around campus, but believes in the cause.
“We have messed (the environment) up so much, we might as well try and fix it,” he said.
Emily Zillgitt said she does what she can to help the environment. The journalism freshman said she hasn’t heard anything extreme other than just recycling.
“I try to take my part and recycle, but I don’t take part in any groups but most people on my floor and building do recycle,” she said.
