RIT Public Relations Student Chapter Is Runner Up in National Campus Challenge

Rochester Institute of Technology’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter will receive a $500 grant for taking the runner-up spot in the “Go Bare on Campus” challenge, a competition sponsored by Solo Cup Co.

The competition—which ran from Oct. 22 to Nov. 21—challenged chapters to form teams and create educational campaigns encouraging environmental sustainability on campus, focused on recycling and composting for single-use products. More than 1,000 students across the country participated. RIT’s Go Bare team consisted of four advertising/public relations students in the College of Liberal Arts’ communication department: Elizabeth Bunn and Chyna Trible, seniors from Auburn, N.Y., Renee Johnson, a junior from Saratoga, N.Y., and Crystal Hermawan, a junior from Calgary, Alberta.

The RIT team implemented strategies and tactics through events such as a “Go Green, Go Bare” Fair, Apple Cider and Doughnuts Day on the Quarter Mile, and an information table on National Recycling Day. They also utilized social media such as Facebook, a Go_Bare@RIT Twitter Account, and a Green_RIT YouTube channel.

Judges praised RIT’s team for having a “well-conceived and well-presented” plan while making “good use of traditional media, social media, events and audience incentives.” RIT’s team tied with Boston University as runners up. Ohio Northern University was first.

“Education is the key to creating sustainable habits and our nation’s college students are determined to learn and integrate sustainable practices into their daily lives,” says Kim Frankovich, vice president of sustainability at Solo Cup Co. “The enthusiasm that the participating schools and students showed during this competition has helped us spread the word about recycling and composting.”