Common Ground: Making a Difference

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Common Ground strives to make a difference. It is the environmental science and social justice club at PSU. “[We] work to spread our knowledge of sustainability, environmental awareness, and green living on campus,” said the president, Amanda Kelly.

Kelly is a senior Environmental Science and Policy major with a minor in Biology. Her dedication to helping the environment shines through both her major and her involvement in this club. She has been a part of Common Ground since she transferred to Plymouth her sophomore year. As part of the club, members“do volunteer work, visit local farms, and put on events that teach students these principles in a relatable way,” said Kelly.

In her time as a member, Kelly has taken the opportunity to learn all she can from her peers. This knowledge includes how to be sustainable, and how to create awareness of the environmental issues that people do not realize are so impactful.

Students of all different majors with an interest in protecting the environment are welcome to attend the meetings. Common Ground members are energetic and motivated to educate their peers about the importance of protecting the environment. They hold weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in the Eco House, which is right across the street from D&M. 

Kelly made sure to stress the importance of the environment. “There is an absolute need for environmental protection,” she said. She pointed out that changing  just one thing in a person’s daily life can make a difference. This change can be anything as little as walking to class instead of driving, recycling, or using a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one.

Common Ground hosts a few big events throughout the school year. Among these are Apple Fest and Earth Jam. They also sponsor the Environmental Fair which took place on April 22. Apple Fest takes place in the fall where members get apples from a local farm to make apple pies. Those pies are then sold to students. “We also display a bicycle powered apple cider press where students can press their own cider,” said Kelly. D’Acres donates the bicycle for this activity.

Earth Jam is an all-day event taking place Saturday, April 25, from 12 noon to 10p.m. in front of the HUB. This solar powered music festival features local bands, local vendors, and student orgs. The vendors sell their homemade crafts and goods. The student orgs put together a variety of different activities. 
Earth Jam highlights some of the different ways that solar power is used, as well as the importance of showing support to the local community.
“This year, we will also have a waste tent where students will learn what is waste, what can be recycled, and what can be composted,” said Kelly. This is so students can learn how to best keep the PSU campus clean.

The shared interests between members allow Common Ground to form a close bond. Every year, current members work to teach their new members that they have the power to be the difference that the environment needs. It is important for each and every student to realize that their actions can have a huge impact on the community and the environment.