Students interested in environmental issues and promoting awareness on campus and in the community may want to consider joining the Environmental Student Organization.

Ken Sala, senior environmental studies major and treasurer of ESO, said that at the beginning of the year, the members of the club took part in a Coastal Cleanup Day at Lake Berryessa. Jasmine Greer, senior environmental studies major and president of ESO, said that ESO took on just one small section of the lake and picked up 30 large bags of garbage as well as 17 bags of recyclables.

ESO, which has been established on campus for more than 39 years, was very strong back in the ’80s.

Greer, who hopes to have a similar impact this year, said ESO will be channeling its efforts towards a few focused goals.

“Right now, we have a big focus on sustainability, like better recycling or compost programs. You see these things on other campuses, but they are really missing here (at Sac State) and that’s a big concern to us,” Greer said.

Alex Neiswender, senior environmental studies major and vice president of ESO, runs ESO meetings at 1:45 p.m. on Mondays in the Buzz in the University Union, and Greer runs meetings at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in Amador Hall, Room 262.

Greer said she is passionate about environmental issues because she knows that natural resources do not last indefinitely.

“Our generation has inherited a mess of problems from our parents and grandparents. Our water, soil and air are terribly polluted,” Greer said. “Natural resources have been exploited and depleted without any regard to sustainability or true economic efficiency and our production practices have been carried out without any regard to social welfare and human health.”

Neiswender said that in order to tackle the issues Greer mentioned, action must be taken. Therefore, ESO focuses on helping the environment through upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.

Greer said many events are being planned for this year, including an educational booth for homecoming and planting native trees with the Sacramento Tree Foundation on Oct. 24.Although being green is a trend right now, Greer said that it is not always easy.

“For people to actually apply (being green) to their daily lives is still a struggle. It takes a group effort and it takes people putting their heads together,” Greer said.

Katrina Tupper can be reached at [email protected]