The Campus Beautification Committee, together with the environmental student club SPEAK, hosted the 6th annual Campus Clean-Up Day on Sunday, April 20.  The event had about 200 students who helped pick up trash on UT's campus, the Strip, and Fort Sanders area.  

"It was probably the best turnout since 2005, largely due to the great help we received from [Associate Dean of Students] J.J. Brown, the Fort Sanders Historic Neighborhood Association, and the United Residence Halls Council," said Kelsey Vickers, one of the organizers of the event.

Volunteers were given gloves, garbage bags, and maps directing them to the specific areas they would be focusing their efforts.  After signing in and receiving materials, students split up and cleaned up trash for two hours. If everyone pitched in just a little bit, it would go a long way to making our campus more beautiful.Jackson Cates

"I personally picked up trash in the Fort," said Meg McAlister, a business pre-major. "Though I expected it, it was shocking to see how many people use the sidewalks and streets as their personal trash cans."

Following the clean-up effort, volunteers met back at the UC to share food provided by local restaurants.  Raffle prizes and free t-shirts were also handed out to participants.

"Campus clean up was an awesome experience," said Jackson Cates, a junior majoring in journalism.  "It gave me the opportunity to give back to the community, but one thing I learned while doing it is that as a campus we have a long ways to go. I wish everyone could've seen the amount of beer bottles and fast food stuff that we picked up. If everyone pitched in just a little bit, it would go a long way to making our campus more beautiful."