160WINTER ORGANIZATIONS S TAMP SUSTAINABILITY Sustainable Harding hosts a stamping event and litter pickup to promote a greener campus. STAMP IT Members of Sustainable Harding sell merchandise at the Hammon Student Center in October 2021. The funds went toward the organization’s efforts to make the world a greener place. Photo by: Julianne Baker SUSTAINABLE HARDING WAS CREATED IN spring 2021. The student-led group had an ambition to create a space for people passionate about the environment to collaborate and share ideas. “Our goal for the club is to create a greener environment for Harding and greater Searcy,” junior Evan Morgan, co-creator and president of Sustainable Harding, said. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, they could not do as much work toward these goals until the following fall semester. During October 2021, the group had two startup events for the student body. A trash pickup opportunity took place the first week of October to clean up campus. Junior Sam Stebbins attended the event. “I really believe in their vision of changing the culture at Harding and creating a community where students and faculty alike are intentionally living sustainable lives day in and day out,” Stebbins said. Later that month Sustainable Harding hosted a stamping event in the Hammon Student Center after chapel. Students brought sweatshirts, t-shirts and tote bags to get stamped with the Sustainable Harding logo. Morgan was pleased with the turnout and success of both events. As the group continued to grow, more activities were hosted in an effort to motivate the student body to change their lifestyle, even if in a small way. Senior Emma Hayes was made aware of how much consumption was in her daily life when she studied abroad at the Harding in Zambia program. Because of this experience, she was enthusiastic about the efforts of Sustainable Harding and the improvements that accompanied it. Hayes believed the students who founded the group had genuine intentions for the campus, and expressed her admiration of them. “I’m very thankful for the people that started the sustainable conversation for me: what it means, how to live it out, the why behind living sustainably,” Hayes said. “I think that’s what Sustainable Harding is doing— starting the conversation for students on campus to be more aware of the Earth we inhabit.” WRITTEN BY HANNAH HACKWORTH
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