In the past month, there have been loose and improperly disposed syringes near the Nebraska Ave shuttle bus stop. While there is no way to know for certain whose they are or what their intended use is, the issue remains that there are syringes that are harmful to the environment and to our community. 

A publicly accessible sharps disposal would allow the members of the AU community to protect themselves and others from accidental pricks from bio-hazardous materials. The sharps disposal should be housed in the Health Promotion and Advocacy Center or the Student Health Center to de-stigmatize sharps use among our community and to better support community members who use sharps. By housing in either of these locations, we are treating health needs as that exactly: a matter of public health. Placing the publicly accessible sharps disposal in such a place would allow for further education for community members who are curious or concerned.

Students who are injecting hormones, managing chronic illness via injectable drugs, and/or using injectable drugs (among many other uses for sharps) should be able to dispose of these sharps properly. The current disposal method (or lack thereof) is objectively dangerous and harmful. The University should be promoting health of the community via a publicly accessible sharps disposal.