Going paperless

To make WLHS students and adults aware of the amount of paper they use, one day a month is set aside as paperless

By Cindy Garrison

The West Linn Tidings, Mar 22, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Samantha Hanlin holds a paper tree filled with paper equivalent to that used from one school printer in one day. Organizers of No Print Day at West Linn High School, in photo at left, throw paper over the school’s second-floor balcony. The demonstration was intended to make students and faculty more aware of the need to save paper.

Cindy Garrison / Submitted photo

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So far this year, 2,646,000 pieces of paper have been used by West Linn High School students and staff. But that all changed on Wednesday, March 14. The school’s 16 printers and five copiers were shut down and everyone at the school was asked to observe No Print Day.

The event was planned as a monthly program to help students and staff become more aware of their paper use.

The event was organized by the high school’s Green Team, the Ecology Team, the Associated Student Body, the leadership classes and Angie Hammond, information technology specialist.

“For two or three days in November printers were shut off,” said Ali Litvir, Green Team president. “We noticed we saved so many reams of paper that we got interested to have a no print day once a month.”

Chris Schwanz, a Green Team member, said that making people aware of their paper use might reduce the 38.6 percent of all garbage in the country that winds up in landfills as paper.

“We want them to recycle as the norm,” he said.

Students and staff suggested many ways to save paper that day.

Taylor Blackthorne mentioned use of the school’s computer network by students and staff so that papers could be exchanged and graded via computer.

“Students can be very motivated,” she said. “It just sometimes takes a jolt.”

Cliff Norby didn’t need a jolt. He was already minimizing paper use on his own.

“I don’t use the printers here that often,” he said. “Most of my work is done online. I don’t print anything unless I need to.”

He receives worksheets and assignments online.

Staff members were doing their part, too.

Nikki Stroup, a second year employee, said her students already used computers for searches and quizzes. She also uses the computer to lecture.

“This year, I e-mail assignments two thirds of the time,” she said. “Whatever they complete, they e-mail back to me, and I grade them online.

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