The coast of Lake Michigan is a major draw for many students at Grand Valley State University. However, with many visitors to the beaches pollution and littering can often become an issue.
To help keep the beach clean and to respect the beach, the Office of Student Life organizes a beach cleanup at the beginning of the fall semester. Cumulatively over the past three yearly cleanups, the event has amassed over 200 pounds of trash collected, with the majority being pieces of discarded plastic.
According to the Office of Student Life, this event is highly important because it encourages students to be engaged with their community and make a positive environmental impact. The timing of the event is calculated to give first-year and returning students an opportunity to connect on campus and make their transition smoother at the start of the year. This year’s beach cleanup was held on Aug. 26.
While the main focus of the event is to clean the beach, there are also team-building exercises and free time to explore Grand Haven built into the day. Students look forward to games, cleanup and reflection. The Office of Student Life provided free food and transportation to the beach so that many students could attend without obstacles.
Sydney Gandolfi, first-year graduate assistant for the Office of Student Life, helped to organize the event this year. She said how the pollution, especially on the beach, is not just a blemish but rather more like an infection. As the problem continues to worsen it takes over more of the beach, distracting and harming the natural beauty the environment has to offer. Additionally, Gandolfi said the waste can be dangerous and plastic can be detrimental to the animals that inhabit the beach if they consume it.
“It takes up space in their stomach and diminishes their hunger, causing them to eat less, have less energy, weaken and, in worst cases, die,” Gandolfi said.
Wildlife and visual appeal are not the only things at risk, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency: “The Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world’s freshwater and 84 percent of the drinkable freshwater in North America.” With the two most commonly collected items being plastic and cigarette butts there is a major threat posed to the freshwater.
According to the Michigan United Conservation Club, if the beach pollution is not handled acutely there are serious risks of algal blooms, different public health risks, several beach closures and general ecosystem disruption.
As the Office of Student Life encourages more students to come out every year, the event aims to get a head start on deterring the growing issue of pollution. This event allows students to make meaningful connections with their peers while supporting an extremely relevant issue.
Gandolfi said the beach cleanup does not just serve one purpose or group but many: “The beach cleanup is not only important to me, it’s important for the wildlife.”