IRVINE : 235 UCI Students Major in Litter-ature

Arming themselves with rakes, brooms and trash bags, about 235 UCI students took part in the “War on Trash” Friday, responding to the university’s inability to maintain campus grounds amid state budget cuts.

While students said cuts are unfortunate, some felt they would rather have events like the “War on Trash” than see a reduction in the academic curriculum.

“The students really spearheaded this,” said Marti Barmore, assistant director of student activities.

Originally scheduled as a fraternity and sorority event, student organizers said it was opened to all UCI students after it garnered widespread appeal.

“I think people were really inspired by this,” said Cheri Wechsler director of fraternity and sorority relations. Wechsler and student leaders hope that Friday’s event will generate enough excitement among students and faculty that clubs and other organizations will adopt a portion of the campus and be responsible for its maintenance.

“Hopefully, we wouldn’t have to do this every year,” said Toni Gast, 23, one of the student organizers.

“The campus used to be cleaner when I was a freshman,” said Kim Hester, a 22-year-old senior from Newport Beach.

Enthusiasm for the event ran high as students canvassed the campus, raking leaves, weeding flower beds and picking up litter.

“It’s kind of a hokey thing,” said Eric Reusch, an 18-year-old freshman, “but it is our campus. . . . The sad part is that all this stuff is going to be back in three days.”