Tracey Chace witnessed what she said was a horrific sight: A maintenance man driving a gas-powered John Deere Gator to pick up trash.
While the vehicle was running, he waited for students to walk by and drove 10 feet away to pick something up off the ground, she said.
On Wednesday, Chace used her story to start the first meeting of Saints for Sustainability, an SFCC student group.
Chace, an SFCC sophomore, created the group to influence students to get involved. There were seven members at the club's first meeting.
The president of UF's Gators for a Sustainable Campus was also there to offer ideas.
Gators for a Sustainable Campus President Alison Erlenbach shared some of the projects that the group has been participating in and offered tips for SFCC to get people involved.
Large corporations donate items to UF's organization to promote sustainability, Erlenbach said.
"A lot of people are willing to help. GRU gave us 1,000 compact light bulbs to pass out at events," Erlenbach, a UF economics junior, said.
The members shared ideas for the SFCC campus that included making bicycle-trail maps and enlarging bus route signs to encourage students to use alternate modes of transportation.
Rachel Friedlander, an SFCC freshman, said painting murals on the walls could make the campus more colorful and also point out ways to be more environmentally friendly.
However, Saints for Sustainability isn't alone. Sustainable Santa Fe, a faculty and staff group has been promoting environmentally friendly practices as part of the SFCC campus for eight months.
Erlenbach said at the football games Gators for a Sustainable Campus pass out recycling bags donated by Anheuser-Busch to tailgaters on campus.
"Whatever your major or your passion is, you can always work towards sustainability," Erlenbach said.
