UA News

The Arizona Department of Transportation has selected the UA as the site for a pilot project meant to raise awareness about littering.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is testing an educational and social media project at The University of Arizona that involves student producing videos that raise awareness about littering.

In what is being called the “Don’t Trash AZ” campaign, ADOT is working with a number of University and community partners.

Depending on the success of the pilot program, ADOT will then consider expanding the program to Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University, said Teresa Welborn, ADOT’s public involvement director.

The campaign has a number of partners on campus and in the greater community, including the UA BookStores, Residence Life, the Associated Students of the UA, the city of Tucson, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Pima Association of Governments and Tucson Clean & Beautiful, Inc.

“The bottom line is that we want students – and Arizonans – to be aware of trash,” Welborn said.

ADOT reports that littering can cause both environmental and health problems, for instance, when toxic chemicals end up in storm drains. Also, debris on roadways causes about 25,000 wrecks across the country each year and more than 80 fatalities, the agency also reported.

UA students have until 5 p.m. on Dec. 3 to submit their videos to ADOT via its Web site. A ceremony – with cash and gift cards as awards – has been scheduled for 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Student Union Memorial Center.

ADOT is not giving specific guidance on what to produce in a video.

“Follow a piece of litter for the day. Determine where a wrapper on fast food goes,” Welborn said. “It’s election season – maybe have a paper and plastic bag have a debate. We don’t want to limit any imagination.”

To aid students in producing and editing their films, the UA Office of Student Computing Resrouces, or OSCR, is making a special accommodation.

Typically, OSCR only allows students to check out equipment for video shoots when they have a faculty sponsor. But the unit will allow students to check out cameras, microphones, lighting kits and other equipment. OSCR is also holding free software and editing workshops for students. “I think it’s going to be a really good campaign,” said Patti Van Leer, a project manager for the University Information Technology Services, which oversees OSCR.

“Our multimedia lab and ILC (Integrated Learning Center) consultants are very adept in helping anyone who is a novice in using the equipment,” Van Leer said. “We were very excited and wanted to be involved in anyway we could.”