MESS brings environmental issues to campus

Ciara Benham

Staff Writer

cbenham@murraystate.edu

When you think about the current state of the environment, you may think it is a bit of a mess. One club on campus is dedicated to bringing awareness to the state of the environment and how the community can help improve it. 

The Murray Environmental Student Society is a student-operated environmental conservation organization dedicated to the well-being of the planet.

“Our mission is to act as the environmental voice for Murray State through education, student activities, and outreach on campus and within the community,” Steven Collett, president of MESS, said.

The club, which was formed in 2008, meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in room 332 in the Blackburn Science Building. At each meeting, the club plans activities and outreach events, invites guest speakers,  discusses present environmental issues on campus or within the community and devises solutions to combat them.

Collett said he wanted to become an officer of MESS to bring awareness to the club.

“I wanted to become president to offer my experiences to grow MESS’s presence on campus and to encourage MESS to work with other related clubs,” Collett said. “I am active within the earth and environmental sciences department and have friends in leadership positions in other related departments and want to cooperate with them to have an increased presence on campus.”

MESS is an active student organization that strives to get as involved as possible on campus and in the community.

“We take hiking trips about once a month and camping trips once a semester,” Hannah Kamman, MESS public relations chair, said. “We involve ourselves in the community with different programs. Earlier this year we spent a meeting making posters for the climate strike.”

MESS also plans fundraising events that educate and aid in conservation efforts.

“Last semester we sold small pots and seeds of plants that were native and pollinator-friendly while we educated people on the importance of pollinators,” Leah Barnes junior and club secretary said.

The members of MESS all share a common interest in protecting and enhancing our environment. The members also enjoy the club because of their ability to grow and learn within it.

“My favorite part of MESS is educating ourselves and others about the environment and how to save it,” Barnes said. “I love being able to simultaneously educate and help people while helping the environment, and I get to meet so many amazing people along the way that share my
passion.”

MESS members would love to see more students become involved with their organization.

“We are the voice of environmental causes on Murray State’s campus,” Collett said. “As young people begin to take a greater stake in the future of our planet, getting involved with our club is a great opportunity to learn what is happening and what will be happening in the future.”

MESS is currently working toward several projects including finalizing their semester camping trip and making costumes for Trail of Treats at Central Park.

A long-term goal for MESS is creating more green space on campus and implementing bike trails around Murray.

“We work together to work toward change for the better in Murray,”  Kamman said.

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