The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is effecting the ecosystem in very frightening ways.

For example, people who live and work in the gulf are being forced to relocate because of unemployment and hazardous living conditions.

All four species of sea turtles inhabiting the gulf are either endangered or greatly threatened by the oil spill. Many other creatures that call the gulf home, such as the brown pelicans, shrimp, and bluefin tuna, aren't surviving the oil contamination.

After the culprit oil company BP executed several failed attempts to stop the oil gusher, many people started looking for ways to help those effected. College students in particular are kicking their volunteerism into high gear. Cosmetology schools around the country are donating hair clippings to help soak up the oil.

Students are traveling to the gulf to get a more hands on volunteer experience through organizations such as The National Audubon Society, The National Wildlife Foundation, and the Alabama Coastal Foundation. Instead of time, some students are donating money to some of the many foundations helping with the disaster relief.

If there is an organization you would like to donate to and you don't have the money in your wallet to do so, get together with members of a campus organization you belong to and hold a fundraiser.What about students who want to help but don't have enough hair, money, or time to donate?

If the myth about college students surviving on cold pizza and Ramen noodles is true, then most students don't have the resources to do the things listed above. This leaves a lot of young people feeling helpless as they watch the world's largest man-made natural disaster unfold. However, there are many small (and cheap) ways that students can help.

1. Purchase Dawn dishwashing liquid. Every bottle has a long code on the back of the bottle that you can activate by typing in on their Web site. After you have activated the code, Dawn donates $1 to the important wildlife conservation efforts of the Marine Mammal Center and the International Bird Rescue Research Center. The soap is tough enough to clean the oil off of the otters and pelicans, yet it's gentle enough not to harm their fur and feathers. It's also pretty darn good at cleaning the burger grease off of your grill after a tailgating party.

2. Matter of Trust is collecting not just human hair, but animal hair too. The organization uses the hair to soak up the oil that comes to shore. If you have a dog, cat, hamster, ferret, younger sibling, or any other hairy creature living in your home, you can harvest their hair and send it to Matter of Trust as a small way to make a big difference! There is also the option of visiting local salons and dog grooming businesses to ask for donations if you feel the hair you have at hand isn't enough.


3. The National Wildlife Foundation has a letter already filled out and waiting for you to send to the government requesting more aid for the gulf spill. The form is simple, free, and easy to submit. Millions of these have already been sent in. Get your campus organizations involved by asking all members to fill out the form. The more letters submitted, the better!

4. If there is a charitable organization you would like to donate to and you don't have the money in your wallet to do so, get together with members of a campus organization you belong to and hold a fundraiser. This would be another clever way to get your campus organization involved in clean up efforts without asking anyone to leave campus. Bake sales, date auctions, and donation tables on the pedestrian walkway are a few good places to start.

5. Reduce your oil consumption. While one person's consumption reduction alone won't save the gulf, every little bit helps! You can do this by switching to public transportation or by biking to class, but there are easier ways to reduce oil consumption around the home as well. For example, switch to soy candles instead of wax. Choose natural fibers the next time you buy sheets or pillows. You can switch to white vinegar instead of chemical cleansers for a lot of your home cleaning needs, such as cleaning the bathroom, removing pet stains, and deodorizing your drains.