To those visiting campus, the sight of refrigerators and vending machines devoid of bottled water may be shocking — or pleasing. Students are learning to cope themselves, but "hydration stations" have made the transition easier.
For the entire school year, students have been learning how to live life without bottled water. Feedback from the change has mainly been split in three. Some think it's a good idea, others think it's bad and still others are indifferent or haven't really noticed.
Those who say the ban has a negative impact call it an "inconvenience."
Junior Caroline Sholty rests among the indifferent. When asked what she thought of it she said, "I don't really think of it."
On a more positive note, sophomore Tyler Hess who spearheaded the original bottled water ban campaign said, "it's a step in the right direction."
Junior Nic Flores, a Parliamentarian of the student government and future student body vice president, spoke of more than just student reaction.
"Tour guides often talk about people who come to visit," he said, "Some people like the stance DePauw has taken, others do not."
But what impact the ban really has is difficult to say. Steve Santo, general manager of Dining Services, wasn't really how halting the purchase of bottled water affected Dining Services over the past year.
"I think that's something we'll probably examine more closely at the end of the year," Santo said.
In place of bottled water, filling stations have populated campus, which count the number of bottles saved. Some stations have been installed since the beginning of the year, or random maintenance reset the number, so it's impossible to know the exact number of bottles saved.
However, the filling stations have certainly been used, as each station keeps count of how much water is dispensed in terms of "bottles" it saves. One of the filling stations in the Hub has a count of more than 100,000. In a lower traffic area such as the Green Center for the Performing Arts, the count is around 5,000.
"It shows how much of an impact [the filling stations] have had," said junior Lindsey Branson, "It shows how one person can have an impact each time the number goes up. They should be everywhere."
Students have learned to live on a campus without bottled water, but some people hope for more.
"I think it's a good idea," Branson said. "But I think people need to know more about what it's all about."
Hess agrees that education on the subject is key to students coping with the change. He explained the need to reduce bottle production because so many negative impacts are associated with the process.
Santo hopes clarity is on the horizon and more results will be made public soon.