By RALF GRUNKE
Special to the Universe
BYU students are aware of environmental matters, but are not very involved in activism say faculty, environmentalists and a survey taken at BYU.
According to a questionnaire answered by some 250 students in Biology 100 this semester, 61 percent of them considered the environment an important issue for this year's election. Eighty-seven percent considered the Endangered Species Act to be an important piece of legislation, 96 percent said human extinction of species is something to worry about.
'I was very impressed by the results of the survey,' said Samuel Rushforth, a member of the Botany and Range faculty at BYU and well-known environmentalist in Utah. 'I think BYU students are just as aware of the environment as students at any other campus. There is less activism going on, though.'
Students at BYU can enroll in Agronomy and Horticulture 214, 'Environmental Science,' Botany 250 or Zoology 150, 'Environmental Biology,' to meet their natural science general education requirement.
'They don't have to, though, it's optional,' Rushforth said. 'There are many other natural science electives that don't specifically deal with environmental issues.'
'Biology 100 and Physical Science 100 also ought to bring out some environmental awareness,' said Richard Terry, a faculty member from the BYU Agronomy and Horticulture Department. Terry taught Agronomy and Horticulture 214 last winter semester.
'About a third of my students were taking the class as a natural science elective. Some have since changed their major to conservation biology or horticulture. I'm sure it was the subject matter, not my teaching.'
Environmental education at BYU generally has a scientific perspective.
'We do environmental studies, really, not environmentalism. I'm always trying to make it explicit that my class is not just about looking at pictures of pretty animals,' said Mark Belk, who teaches Zoology 150 this semester. According to Belk, the scientific focus qualifies students to make environmentally sound judgments.
'My students are often very passionate about the environment, but we teach them science so that they know what they're talking about,' said Rushforth.
Environmental education is not as science-based at other Utah universities. The College of Eastern Utah offers a more practical two-course environmental studies program.
The program is composed of a field experience involving camping, backpacking, river running, mountain biking or skiing and a required five-credit-hour 'Environment Amid Changing Values' course. This course introduces students to writings about human relations to the natural world by authors like Ralph Waldo Emerson or Ann Zwinger.
Many BYU students are fond of the on-campus recycling program, which saves the university about $200,000 every year. 'I am really glad that BYU has such a great recycling program,' said Sydney Smith, a 21-year-old conservation biology major. 'Although there aren't opportunities to recycle several things on campus or in the state, I think BYU's service should serve as a model for the state.'
Other universities in the state have also adopted recycling programs.
'We started recycling in April 1991,' said Cami Checketts, recycling coordinator at Utah State University. 'We now recycle 500 tons of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and cans every year.'
Weber State University initiated a first-of-its-kind recycling program this year by forming a partnership with a recycling trash-hauling company. The company will assist in reducing the university's landfill waste by 50 percent, hoping to reduce trips and tonnage by half, said Dave Naxson, director of Physical Plant, in a Weber State University press release.
The BYU program continues to be among the most successful, say environmentalists. Jennifer Dunlap, a 20-year-old elementary education major and member of the BYU environmental club Eco-response, said, 'The environment is precious to me. I am glad BYU has such a good recycling program.'
Some students suggest that more recycling bins would make the BYU program even more effective. 'My roommates would maybe recycle a bit, but they won't go out of their way to do so. If there were bins around, they would use them,' said Suzanne Ross, also a member of Eco-response.
The same environmentalists say that even though BYU students know about environmental problems and recycle, they don't get involved in activism. 'Most of the students claim to care about the environment, but I don't think they take the initiative to do anything about it. They want things to be clean and preserved as long as it doesn't cost them too much or take them too much of their energy,' said 19-year-old sophomore and Eco-response member, Shannon Edmonds.
Some environmentalists say they feel that other students are not very tolerant towards their activism. 'Everyone calls me a super-granola tree-hugger,' said 20-year-old conservation biology major Rebecca Lyon. 'People honestly tell me they are not concerned about pollution or water quality, because we will adapt. They say the Lord is in control.'