Students across BYU's campus have found meaning and purpose through the school’s Grow the Flow chapter. The Utah-based group aims to prevent the Great Salt Lake from drying up. Students have lobbied at the state capitol, educated the community and become advocates for Utah’s environment.
Maycen Robinson is one student who has enjoyed meaningful experiences through the chapter. After the student who started the chapter graduated, Robinson took over and leads it today, while also being an intern for Grow the Flow. The group empowers students and community members to take action and fight to keep the Great Salt Lake healthy and full.
“BYU plays such a special role in Utah,” Robinson said. “We have such a strong influence… I want people at BYU to feel empowered to take action when it comes to the Great Salt Lake. But people can’t feel empowered to take action without education. So, my first goal is to simply spread the word.”
At each activity, Grow the Flow educates students and community members about the Great Salt Lake and the current issues surrounding it. The chapter welcomes all interested people, regardless of whether they have a background in the lake or not. Once properly educated, the chapter then tries to provide opportunities for people to get involved.
“When you hear about big, complicated issues like this, it’s so hard to know what to do,” Robinson said. “One of my goals is to make it seem less scary… and show small ways you can start now to make a difference in the community.”
Some of the activities the chapter has done include writing to senators, meeting with local representatives and having experts in the field visit the chapter to discuss the challenges facing the lake.
Another way Grow the Flow has empowered students is by encouraging them to speak with lawmakers and local leaders about the Great Salt Lake. Brooke Paligo, a member of the chapter, had the chance to work closely with Utah Senator Keven Stratton about the Great Salt Lake and the impact it has on the environment. More specifically, students and Great Salt Lake experts are consulting Senator Stratton about the language of HB60 and how it can be more environmentally friendly.
“Honestly, it’s kind of crazy to me. When I was in high school, I never thought I’d be able to do this. But being at BYU and getting involved is empowering in a way. It inspires me to keep going because we finally have a chance to make some change,” Paligo said.
The chapter believes their united impact can make a difference in Utah.
“A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing,” Paligo said. “If you keep doing small things, it will build up.”
Grow the Flow tries to involve everyone in their mission — including farmers, students and lawmakers.
“Everybody has a role to play,” Robinson said. “When the Great Salt Lake dries up, it will affect everybody. No one is immune to that. We need to get everyone involved.”
If the Great Salt Lake were to dry up, studies show that toxic chemicals and arsenic-laced dust would be a major concern. These chemicals could cause respiratory issues, asthma and cancer, according to Robinson. She believes that people are at the core of the group. If the Great Salt Lake were to dry up, many people in lower-income brackets could not afford to move somewhere else, she said.
Similarly, if the Great Salt Lake were to dry up, the lake’s surrounding areas would experience more drastic climate change. The Great Salt Lake helps significantly with precipitation, impacting snow and rainfall in Utah. Robinson explained that without the lake, Utah will continue becoming drier and hotter.
With the proposed Utah data center, the chapter has continued advocating for the Great Salt Lake by questioning the center’s statistics.
“Right now, as it stands, there is so much we don’t know about the data center. It doesn’t look like it would be something good for Utah for a myriad of reasons,” Robinson said. “Not just for the Great Salt Lake, but for the people living in the area… There can be positive and ethical ways of moving forward with those kinds of projects. But, there needs to be a lot of safeguards.”
The education and activities Grow the Flow provides can be an eye-opening experience for students.
“I feel like it's empowering because it has shown me that things can be done,” Robinson said. “It can be so easy to feel defeated… By getting up and doing something, I feel so much more hopeful. It’s shown that my actions can make a difference.”
Ben Abbott, the faculty advisor for BYU's Grow the Flow, says he is impressed by the students.
“I have been blown away at the student interest in the Great Salt Lake. Students have organized fasts, service projects, lectures, screenings and Sunday school lessons," Abbott said. "It is such an uncertain time in the world right now, but when you are united in a cause, you always find a way forward.”
BYU’s Grow the Flow chapter encourages any interested students to come to their activities and see if they want to be involved.
“One of the defining characteristics of BYU students is that they want to make a difference in the world,” Abbott said. “You don't have to wait until you are done with your university experience to go forth and serve.”
For students who want to get involved, BYU’s Grow the Flow Chapter encourages people to follow their Instagram or to visit the official Grow the Flow website.
The chapter hosts activities each month regarding the Great Salt Lake.