As Gettysburg College students were arriving back on campus for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 the dining center Servo changed its policy on dining. Students would finally be able to have Servo meals to go which would make their lives a lot easier.
However, the campus became littered with mountains of plastic food containers. They were all over Stine Lake and even overflowing in our rooms. The trash cans were full at every hour of the day. All of this while we unknowingly digested thousands of microplastic particles from these single-use plastics.
She added that it was nice to take the meal and enjoy activities like watching a movie in her dorm. Most students would agree with statements like these because, frankly, it’s true. Making Servo to-go was a good move on the college’s part to try and mitigate the COVID situation while also providing students with food-to-go but that does not excuse the negative impacts it had on college life.
Now, we know that students are really for this idea but do they realize the impacts of the decision? The amount of plastic pollution had profound impacts on the amount of trash on campus, public health, and the college’s sustainability plans which is why servo should not be offered to-go.
Many students of Gettysburg College argue that Servo dining should be made available to-go. However, they fail to realize the environmental consequences of this change; the decrease of recycling practices during the pandemic, and even the effects of pollution on public health. However, as students who are aware of the environment and health caused by plastics, Servo to go was not the best decision the school has made.
Here the history and background will be discussed in relation to the ideals of public health and to us. After, Servo will be analyzed on its influence as a microplastic producer. Servo students and staff will enlighten us on the true impacts of the change. To end, sustainability efforts will be acknowledged around the campus and Gettysburg area.