How many times have you walked through the NIU campus, passing well-tended trees and carefully manicured grass and flowers, only to trip over fast-food cartons, soda cans and old newspapers?

Granted, all of us have “more important” things to think about than what to do with our empty Big Mac cartons and cigarette butts. Many of us think to ourselves, “Someone else will clean it up.” But, usually, no one does.

In several areas, NIU’s campus is not a pleasant scene. The care and effort that NIU’s grounds crew puts into the appearance of the university often is obliterated by the carelessness and lack of effort by some of NIU’s citizens.

One of the easiest acts in the world is to drop trash wherever one sees fit instead of looking for a garbage can. Unfortunately, the campus might never be free of every loose scrap and aluminum can, but a little effort can go a long way.

Several NIU and community organizations have helped clean up the campus in the last few months, and their efforts are appreciated. But what would be more appreciated would be the pleasure of not having anything to clean up.

Take a minute to throw garbage in its proper place and avoid senseless destruction like dumping over the cement ashtrays and trash cans. With Homecoming and Parents Weekend coming up, let’s show our visitors a campus that we can be proud of.