Senate discussed and passed Resolution 13-01 March 7. The resolution, titled “Community Trash Cans,” proposes that monies be allocated for large community trash cans to be placed in kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms and lobbies of the residence halls.

The resolution, introduced by Senator Nikki Messer, comes on the heels of the removal of the large community trashcans in LaGrange, Rice and Rivers halls, according to the resolution.

Audrey Mitchell, director of housing, said this change didn’t occur this year, and students have been required to take their own trash out for several years now.

“This has been a policy for over five years now,” she said.

The resolution details SGA’s intent to “enhance student amenities on campus,” and states that the student body has “tasked the SGA with advocating for more efficient trash cans within the residence halls: Rice, Rivers and LaGrange.”

One of the biggest issues Messer and other senators brought to the forefront of the discussion is that without the larger trash cans, students are leaving their trash around residence halls. This could potentially lead to negative impressions on potential students and recruits, according to the resolution.

“I know that I would not be at UNA if I had visited and there was trash everywhere in the residence halls,” Messer said.

Mitchell said her staff takes great strides to make sure the residence halls are clean before tours begin every day.

“Our staff comes in every morning between 6 and 6:30 to clean before tours,” she said. “We still have trash cans in the kitchens and bathrooms, but the trash chutes are all nailed up now.”

The resolution said SGA proposes that procedures for allocating monies to the larger community trash cans be taken from the already existing funds that the residents pay on a semesterly basis.

The authors of the resolution also proposed that implementing these changes will be beneficial for residence life.

According to the resolution, “this resolution will provide recruitment benefits for the University of North Alabama and Department of Residence Life.”

Mitchell said she and her staff are not opposed to putting trash bins back in the residence halls, but students need to recognize that is not what needs to change.

“I don’t have an issue with putting trash cans back out,” she said. “But if students are responsible for taking their own trash out, what are they going to put in the trash cans?

“The policy has to be changed before the trash cans can be put out, though.”