Members of the Baton Rouge Sunrise Rotary and Rotaract, the college version of Rotary, spent two hours Friday picking up broken glass, fast food containers, cigarette butts and other trash along Chimes and State Streets. The two organizations donated two wrought-iron trashcans to be placed on State Street after this year’s day of cleaning.
The organizations teamed up Friday as part of the Great American Cleanup and LSU’s Community-University Partnership.
While cleaning the area around the North gates of campus, Rotary and Rotaract hoped to educate the community about revitalizing the area, said Jim Stalls, Sunrise Rotary president and president of the Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana.
“It’s got to be ongoing,” Stalls said.
Rotaract President Chris Kaleel, a mass communication senior, said Friday’s efforts are only the beginning for the organization.
“We are trying to make this a continued support effort and eventually sponsor State Street and Chimes cleanup efforts throughout the year,” Kaleel said. “With the help of Rotary we’ve really been able to get this off the ground and in future semesters and years we can do more of this to make it a continual effort.”
      Delaine Emmert, Chancellor Mark Emmert’s wife, said the event energized the community.
“We need to have an environment that invites everyone,” she said. “This area needs a good shot in the arm. I think the students deserve to live in a clean environment. Chimes Street is where the students can walk and enjoy a cup of coffee, sit with a friend, shop. It’s a part of the community, and the University is just a microcosm of the larger community.”
At the event, Chancellor Emmert promised the University would match every trash can Rotaract and Rotary donated.
“We really are working hard, the University community, with the merchant association and volunteer groups in this area to be a part of the community and help it thrive,” he said. “It’s good for us; it’s good for the community. Part of it is making sure it’s a clean safe, pleasant environment. This is a great first step.”
Several University students dedicated a new playground Friday at Polk Elementary School as part of the Great American Cleanup but separate from Rotaract and Rotary’s efforts. University students built the playground as part of a service learning class.
Facility Services employees helped residents on Roosevelt and Garfield Streets move appliances and other unwanted items to the street for a special trash pickup.