It's Lakeside, not Dumpsite

AN architectural marvel over a sprawling 30-acre campus with a scenic lake. State-of-the-art classrooms with dimming fluorescent lamps and carpeted floors. Forget the kopitiam when we have Starbucks right on our doorstep. But take a second look at the tables and the floor. Plastic cups filled with half-melted ice by the tables in a classroom. Sandwich wrappers fluttering across the food court. Cans of soda rolling by the corridor. Cigarette butts in the fire escape staircase. Oddly enough,the rubbish bin is conveniently located just a stride away.

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Why is litter such a common sight here? Being in this school, it’s an unwritten fact that most students are well-to-do, ‘educated’ and ‘civilised’. We study such advanced topics on price elasticity, contingency planning, Hypodermic Needle theory that all require lots of thinking and calculation. So where did that one brain cell that’s responsible for cleaning up after yourself go?

Cleaning up your trash should be as habitual as turning the light off when you leave a room or brushing your teeth every day. What do we do after taking a dump? We hose and wipe ourselves clean. You get the idea.

Taylorians are rapidly gaining a reputation of being a bunch of spoiled and pampered youngsters; the kind who have three maids for each floor of their three-storey bungalow in a gated community in Puchong Perdana. I am not targeting this article at any person or group in particular, but everybody in general. Urge all your friends to dispose of that keropok bag and Mamee Monster packets when you’re done snacking at Lecture theatre 3. Send back your tray of half-eaten caramel cashew muffin and focaccia sandwich back to the counter. Don’t leave your nasi lemak bungkus strewn about when the dumpster is just around the corner.

More than just your reputation
The way we behave in public reflects the way our parents brought us up. It’s not just your reputation that you need to hold up; it’s your parent’s, your university’s, your nationality and your existence as a civilised human being.

One of the major reasons why developed nations like Sweden, Japan and New Zealand became what they are today is because they have embedded the culture of ‘clean up as you go’. If we were to go on with this ‘tidak apa’ attitude, we’ll never reach the developed nation status by the year 2020.

Your family or housemates will notice your behaviour and hopefully follow your good habit. ��e practice follows when you step out of the house and to school and beyond. You will feel a strong sense of self-respect and pride when you’re the only person at the food court to send back the tray (just like how it works after you had a plate of Swedish meatballs at IKEA).

The inkslingers have some advice and tips on how to get your noble act on. Start from your home. Dirty laundry heads straight to the washing machine, rather than being heaped by your room’s door until the end of the week. Cup noodles go right into the bin, rather than sitting prettily on your custom-made Italian marble kitchen counter.

Hygienic environment
One more reason – cleanliness. When you’re in a dirty environment, you wouldn’t feel comfortable. And that will distract you from your work. Soon, the ��ies come alanding, cockroaches come a-breeding, rats come a-feasting and the next thing you know, everyone has surrendered to cholera due to the unsanitary conditions caused by our recklessness.

We need to develop a sense of belonging in our campus. Only then we can take care of it collectively and willingly. You won’t lose anything once you know how to be responsible. Young people want role models that are among their peers, not through an authority, so start this trend of trash-dumping and soon the people around you will follow (or at least be aware of your deed).

From the big items like a mound of trash bags to the tiniest items like a straw wrapper, it all matters in keeping our surroundings clean.
Happy dumping!

By: Aina Liyana (26.10.10)