Students left trash, tents, a cooler with the Greek letters (Lambda Chi Alpha), U of O flip flops, feces, used tampons and condoms, and etc. on the island. Their university officials called it "disgraceful" and that they do not support the event. The national Lambda Alpha Chi fraternity has "suspended" the U of O chapter. Really? Suspended. Disgraceful. Sorry if I offend anyone here but this was way beyond disgraceful and I believe those students should foot the $10,000 cleanup that taxpayers are now left with. One comment I read from a reader on the Huffington Post website regarding this story stated that $10,000 seemed too much for the clean up. I kindly replied to her post explaining that this cleanup was on an island. Boats had to be used to transport workers and the trash they collected. Workers also had to be paid for their time. But more importantly, is that the cleanup of human feces, menstrual blood, and semen is nasty. Proper suiting up and protection is needed for those having to clean this up, as human carry nasty bugs that workers who do this type of cleanup (my son being one) must protect themselves against. Disposal of hundreds of dollars of tents, camping gear, and other equipment along with disposal of human waste is not cheap.
 |
| This was posted on Facebook by an individual, and these pictures are worth a thousand words. |
I am sure that the university and the national fraternity are both counting on the public 'forgetting' about this incident, and letting it just blow-over. I hope that this is not what is actually going to happen, because such mentality simply allows such horrible behavior from students. Such disrespect for our public lands from these students is not only appalling, but it is unforgivable. Animals don't leave behind scenes like this, and sorry if I offend, but I blame the parents who never bothered to teach their children respect and consideration for our land or how to behave as decent adults.
I see these pictures and I can only image that these kids were the typical "entitled" youth I saw at my university everyday. No respect. No accountability. No common sense. I feel sad when I see these pictures, as there is no excuse at all for such behavior and disrespect towards our Mother Earth. She provides for us, and we should protect her. Children need to know that when they use public lands, they must leave it cleaner than they found it. Parents need to teach their children how to be stewards of the land. Had this been one of my own, they would be spending their summer volunteering at Lake Shasta cleaning up after other campers and people visiting the lake. It would be a summer well-spent and one that would teach to think twice next time they find their self in such a situation. Teach your kids to be leaders - not followers.
I was also raised by a father who taught all his children how to respect the land and care for Mother Earth. We always cleaned up after ourselves. I have camped as an adult many times, and never have I seen anyone in a campground or national forest leave such trash and filth behind. I don't feel that calling this situation a "disgrace" is even close. I for one, will not easily forget this situation and I hope that the U of O takes action against these criminals. Littering is illegal and I think they should take the time to prosecute those involved.
Here is the law from the Penal Code...
Penal Code
PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25 - 680]. ( Part 1 enacted 1872. )
TITLE 10. OF CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY [369a - 402c] (Title 10 enacted 1872. )
374.4.
(a) It
is unlawful to litter or cause to be littered in or upon public or
private property. A person, firm, or corporation violating this section
is guilty of an infraction.
(b) This
section does not restrict a private owner in the use of his or her own
property, unless the littering of waste matter on the property creates a
public health and safety hazard, a public nuisance, or a fire hazard,
as determined by a local health department, local fire department or
district providing fire protection services, or the Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection, in which case this section applies.
(c) As
used in this section, “litter” means the discarding, dropping, or
scattering of small quantities of waste matter ordinarily carried on or
about the person, including, but not limited to, beverage containers and
closures, packaging, wrappers, wastepaper, newspapers, and magazines,
in a place other than a place or container for the proper disposal
thereof, and including waste matter that escapes or is allowed to escape
from a container, receptacle, or package.
(d) A
person, firm, or corporation convicted of a violation of this section
shall be punished by a mandatory fine of not less than two hundred fifty
dollars ($250) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) upon a first
conviction, by a mandatory fine of not less than five hundred dollars
($500) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) upon a
second conviction, and by a mandatory fine of not less than seven
hundred fifty dollars ($750) nor more than three thousand dollars
($3,000) upon a third or subsequent conviction.
(e) The
court may, in addition to the fine imposed upon a conviction, require
as a condition of probation, in addition to any other condition of
probation, that any person convicted of a violation of this section pick
up litter at a time and place within the jurisdiction of the court for
not less than eight hours.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 416, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2007.) From http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=374.4
For more on this story see Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lake-shasta-trashed-oregon_us_574511dae4b055bb1170a098
No comments:
Post a Comment