As we enter September, Villanovans living both on campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods have settled into their dorms, apartments and houses for the academic year. On move-in day and shortly thereafter, students transformed their rooms from unadorned canvases to their home-away-from-homes for the next nine months.
The move-in process generates a lot of waste, as students discover what they do and do not still need from their stash of accoutrements. Often, when students graduate from the small dorms of South and Main Campus and into the apartments of West Campus and the Commons, there are some things, like minifridges or extra clothing racks, that are no longer required.
When I moved into my Commons apartment a couple weeks ago, there were a couple things I had stashed in my storage unit and the shadowy corners of my dorms over the last couple years that I had no need for anymore. I have enough closet space to not need a separate coat rack, and my roommates had already set up one of their minifridges in the living room for beverages.
As I sat at lunch with my parents before they left to catch their flight, we discussed how we could possibly get rid of some stuff, and my dad threw out the idea that Villanova should have some way for students to easily pawn off some of their unused items to others that might have a use for them, which my mom and I thought was a really good idea.
There are a couple ways students are able to get second-hand dorm gear on campus, but they aren’t well-known.
We happened to inquire with a Public Safety officer directing move-in traffic if he might have any need for a minifridge, and he told us that Public Safety runs a service where they collect furniture and decor that students don’t need and make it available for other students who might not be able to get those things otherwise. I have never seen this talked about anywhere and would urge Public Safety to better publicize this service around the move-in and move-out windows. Public Safety was unable to be reached for comment.
Another common practice is for students to advertise supplies they are willing to part with on the Villanova class-specific Snapchat stories: a feature the social media company added a couple years ago which allows college students to view and post a story specific to their class at the school they attend (ex. Villanova 2025 for seniors). Throughout the year, students can be found posting pictures and prices of their items for other students who may want them.
Both of these options are not well-known to everybody. There should be another way for students to pass along unwanted items that is much more accessible.
A simple solution could be for the University to create a Facebook marketplace group specifically for student exchange. Most, if not all, Villanova Students probably have Facebook accounts via Instagram, so it would be easily accessible for the student body without the University having to create new digital infrastructure.
Another potential solution would be for Public Safety to expand their already existing operation. Posting QR codes in and around dorm and apartment buildings during move-in and move-out that link to an item submission form would go a long way in publicizing the service and ensuring unused items get to students who could benefit the most. This could also be another avenue for Public Safety student outreach on campus.
Walking by the huge piles of dorm and apartment supplies in Farley Hall when moving out last year triggered something in my hippie, Pacific Northwest soul. There has to be a better way to deal with the student waste issue than what currently exists. Making it easier for students to donate and sell their things to their comrades who need them would be a great way to start.
