16 // OPINION (LOCAL ISSUE)

November 18, 2025, saw the creation and implementation of SAU's new Recycling Trailer Program.

The project was overseen by SAU's director of Volunteer Services Katie Tejada in collaboration with the SOAR Sustainability Conference Board. It plants a physical trailer dedicated toward collecting recyclable material on the northeast corner of the Reynolds Center parking lot.

(A photo of Greene Hall, a dorm involved in making SAU greener)

I was cynical as to how effective this addition to campus would be, but seeing the numbers helped me put things into perspective. More than 3,000 recyclables were submitted in 2023, all of which include paper, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum.

This shows that a good percent of the student population care about recycling, an initiative I assumed most (including to an extent, me) would be indifferent to. Although, the university does have Greene Hall, a dorm where its residents are mandated in taking part in making eco-friendly choices. So, this may have been the most natural and logical outcome.

While 63% of American universities have established recycling programs according to the Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), there was only an average recycling rate of 24%. With this knowledge, it would be hypocritical and disingenuous of me to hope that this percentage increases while not contributing to it. But an increase would be helpful, obviously, so maybe I'll just imply it.

- C. Thomas Bailey

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02 // MISINFORMATION & DISINFORMATION

Sometimes, people go on the Internet and lie. Please, do not be too shocked. It might comfort you to know that these lies aren't always intentional— rather, it's possible that whoever just spewed that concerning lie (your testy grandfather, your invasive Uber driver hell-bent on making small talk, your sigh-inducing coworker Ron, etc.) has based their opinion solely on wrong information. Information can be sensationalized enough for most people to believe without fact-checking the sources or logistics. In other words, they can be misinformed . Misinformation is described by the American Psychological Association (APA) as "any information that is demonstrably false or otherwise misleading, regardless of its source or intention.” But what (or who) spreads misinformation? (The icon of X's "Community Notes" feature, used by users to fact check one another's posts.) The Usual Suspects According to the APA, misinformation is more likely to spread on social...

05 // HOMETOWN FEATURE NEWS

On September 20, 2025, the Alzheimer's Association hosted a fundraiser walkathon at Spring Lake Park, Texarkana, Texas. The goal of the walkathon was for residents to show support and awareness toward individuals "living with Alzheimer's and other dementias," all the while raising funds for Alzheimer's medication research and resources. Attendees could walk either the 1-mile or 3-mile route after registration. Participants wore purple in accordance with the official colors of the Alzheimer's Association to show further support. (Map of both the 1-mile and 3-mile route) Ultimately, 157 people attended the walkathon, and consequently raised $15,700. This averages to around $100 raised per person, which is relatively impressive. Furthermore, though omitted to keep people's privacy, images of the event can be found on social media. More information about upcoming fundraisers by the Alzheimer's Association can be found in the link at the top of the page, a...

12 // NUMERACY

You might often hear people describe themselves as not being a "math person." You might know some intellectuals who struggle with long division or recognizing algebraic equations. You might even relate to both of the qualities just described. This is not a display of poor education or failing intelligence; no, this is most likely a struggle with numeracy. According to the U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , numeracy is categorized into two types: "subjective" and "objective" numeracy. "Subjective numeracy is a person’s reported confidence in understanding mathematical data. Objective numeracy measures a person’s actual math skills." (Image from Freepik ) Numeracy is an invaluable skill, applicable even outside of an academic setting. Like the National Numeracy C harity states, numeracy can be used to interpret data, statistics, charts, and diagrams; manage and solve fiscal problems; and overall improve one's confidence in ...

MM 2003 // C. Thomas Bailey

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