Crews set out to clean up Oakland

Saturday morning, none were more aware of the aftermath of the previous weeks of partying and… Saturday morning, none were more aware of the aftermath of the previous weeks of partying and littering than the 60 students who picked up trash off Oakland streets.

The students separated into six groups and collected nearly 60 bags of trash in two hours.

As a part of the Keep It Clean, Oakland initiative, students and residents were invited to help beautify the neighborhood by picking up trash, painting, gardening and recycling.

The Oakland Planning and Development Corporation coordinates KICO.

They also organized the Adopt-A-Block program – a program where student groups agree to clean a designated group of streets once a month.

There are 33 student organizations, sororities and fraternities that willingly take time out of their Saturdays to pick up sidewalk debris.

The OPDC also holds general trash pickup events that are open to anyone.

At Saturday’s litter pickup, 40 students participated as a part of their sentences for misdemeanors, such as underage drinking and public drunkenness.

District magistrate Gene Ricciardi sent students to the event to fulfill community service hours.

Many other students who did not commit to adopting a block braved the icy sidewalks and frigid temperatures to help clean streets.

Pitt’s chapter of the Circle K International volunteer organization had 19 participants who seemed to take pride in the cleanup effort.

“I like it because I can really see the effect of what I’m doing as opposed to fundraising and donating,” Pitt’s Circle K treasurer, Justin Aaron, said.

Circle K president Joe Tesoriero agreed that the cleanup efforts are especially gratifying.

In his four years at Pitt, Tesoriero has participated in more than 10 trash pickups with Circle K and his fraternity, Delta Chi.

During those many trash pickups, Tesoriero has disposed of cigarette butts, alcohol paraphernalia, paper and bottles.

He has also come across stranger items.

“Sometimes we find condoms. That’s gross,” Tesoriero said. “But we also find tires, large pieces of metal – basically not your everyday trash.”

Community organizer for OPDC, Kelly Wawrzeniak commented on the necessity of street beautification in Oakland.

“We want students to recognize that Oakland is a neighborhood. Some people have been living here their whole lives, and we need to respect that. These streets are not just an extension of the campus. We need to keep them clean and safe,” she said.

With the construction of Bouquet Gardens and the expansion of Pitt’s campus, Oakland residents are forced to cope with extra litter.

Wawrzeniak sympathizes with residents who are upset with the large amounts litter that seem to be common around college campuses.

“We want to show the residents that we’re making an effort,” she said.

Since KICO was founded in 2003, students have been working to improve the appearance of Oakland streets, sometimes facing extreme heat, freezing temperatures and icy sidewalks.

“This wouldn’t be bad at all if it wasn’t freezing. I can’t feel my fingers,” Circle K member Krissy Forte said.

Girls in the Circle K group sang Disney songs to make the working conditions more enjoyable.

Some members explained that they didn’t have to work as hard because their street assignments were easier than they had been in the past.

“Semple [Street] is the worst street to pick up. It’s always gross. We always fill a lot of bags there,” Circle K member Stephanie Wieland said.

“Ward [Street] isn’t too bad. We got here and thought, ‘Where’s all the trash?'”

Perhaps that was because Zeta Beta Tau did a thorough job picking up litter off Ward Street, their adopted block, two weeks before.