Notice paper straws in the MUC? Here’s where they came from

Plastic straws have been replaced at the Muenster University Center by environmentally-friendly, biodegradable paper straws, an initiative spearheaded by junior Faith Ireland and Aramark, USD’s food service management company. 

University Brew, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Chick-Fil-A, Qdoba and other campus dining options have implemented the new straws at their locations. 

Ireland, former president of Student Understanding Sustainable Tactics (SUST), submitted reports to the Student Government Association (SGA) last spring expressing concern toward local recycling facility and environmental concerns connected with plastic straw usage. 

Although reducing plastic usage promotes awareness about global plastic issues, Ireland sees the issue from a local point of view. 

“Locally, we don’t have sea turtles in South Dakota. Where my point of view was coming from is that many students don’t know how to recycle or don’t know where,” Ireland said. 

Single-use plastics like straws and plastic bottles consistently grow the overall global use of plastics. According to a 2015 study conducted at the University of Georgia, Americans use 500 million straws daily.

“Students are essentially reducing their plastic use without even knowing it. It is a step in the right direction to get companies and students to understand there is a green need,” Ireland said. While paper straws are sparking awareness in the student body, it is not a lasting solution to the overuse of plastic. 

Meghann Jarchow, a sustainability professor, works with students on the subject of environmental awareness. She believes USD is a place that not only stimulates an environment for change but encourages it, she said.

“Sustainability, to me, is thinking about what kind of world we want and what kind of change do we want to create that world,” Jarchow said.  “We are unique in the sense that it is a great place to try things out. Students can have ideas and then can implement them.”

Jarchow hopes that paper straws will help spark awareness in students and staff about plastic usage.

“One of the biggest parts of sustainability is that we are trying to bring awareness and helping people think about how they can change that issue,” Jarchow said. 

UBrew will be incorporating biodegradable lids to their location in the MUC to promote environmentally friendly living. 

Aramark was contacted to comment on their role in the paper straw initiative, but did not reply.