CSB students take out the trash, clean up campus

04/20/2009

ST. JOSEPH — Students and alumni from the College of St. Benedict gathered Sunday to not only clean up their community but to show appreciation.

Sponsored by the school’s Student Preparatory Committee, the St. Joseph Spring Clean Up served as a “thank you” to the St. Joseph community.

“We were trying to think of ways to give back to the community,” Jacquie Leary said. “It’s showing appreciation for letting us stay here nine months out of the year.”

Leary '09 and Katie Carlson '09 organized Sunday’s event. Both are members of the Student Preparatory Committee. Carlson said she was surprised at how fast students signed up to help.

“We’re trying to cover as much ground as we can,” Carlson said.

The cleanup event was set up for four one-hour shifts. More than 40 students showed up to volunteer within the first hour. The number was unexpected, but Carlson and Leary were happy to see the level of support.

Davone Rolle '10 showed up to help with the cause. She thought the event was a good idea.

“I thought we were just going to clean the park, but it makes sense to go around the city,” Rolle said.

Students met in Centennial Park and made their way to different areas around the park leading up to College Avenue. Equipped with rubber gloves and trash bags, students were determined to make a difference.

Sierra Dooley '12 and Kristen Senftner '11 worked together as they picked up trash along Second Avenue Northwest. They were surprised at the number of random things they found near garbage cans and thought the timing of the event was good.

“This is our community. I personally think everyone should be here,” Dooley said. “I hope it will raise awareness.”

Another goal of the event was to get alumni and current students together, organizers said. It was important to Amy Canfield, a 2007 alumnae from Edina, to come back Sunday to help with the cleanup.

“It’s a way to show that when you graduate, you still care about the school and community you came from,” Canfield said of attending the event. “It’s (an effort) to keep St. Joseph clean.”

Ashley Verburg '10 and Rebecca Peichel '10, members of the Student Senate, also showed support for the event. They thought the cleanup was a great way to give back.

“They opened it up to the entire student body,” Verburg said. “I think it’s wonderful.”

Institutional Advancement
College of Saint Benedict
St. Joseph, MN 56374
(320) 363-5682
(800) 648-3468