Jackson McGough

Freshman year — and especially that maiden semester — each of us had to blaze trails and enforce good habits. Many of us had never lived on our own or been without a nagging parent regulating our whereabouts on a Friday night. Luckily, in this uncertain and occasionally intimidating climate, a great number of us shared an imperative to meet people, create connections and make friends. Some found fast friends on our first nights out and at hopelessly awkward orientation events.

Brown students generate tons of trash — literally. In 2019, the University collected over 540 tons of compost alone, a number likely dwarfed by the mountains of non-compostable waste produced every year. Over the years, Brown has made commendable efforts to reduce and reuse, including the introduction of recycling bins alongside every trash can and composting at the dining halls.