The Basics
Name: Erin Reily
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: The greatest city on Earth (aka New Orleans)
Majors/Minors: Graphic Design and Marketing double major
Dorm: Lyons
Relationship Status: single
So about the cups in the dining hall…
What role did you play in the dining hall’s new eco-friendly movement?
At some point last year I began writing to the manager about the replacement of styrofoam cups in the dining hall.  It wasn’t until the next semester that he responded to me, asserting that styrofoam cups were in fact not better than plastic cups, and asking what could be done about hot beverages. This did not really relate to the problem I was addressing.  Being my ridiculous self, I responded by printing out a bunch of articles about why drinking hot beverages from styrofoam cups isn’t safe, and explained what my solution actually entailed: 1) Since styrofoam cups cannot be recycled, I suggested that the dining hall instead replace them with plastic cups for ice cream, and students would be able to recycle them after. 2) There are several other eco-friendly alternatives for hot beverage containers. One such eco-friendly alternative, Green Your Cup,  is actually still exploring its own potential success.
What I didn’t expect was for South to completely get rid of all forms of portable cups.  This of course was an even better outcome than simply replacing the current cups with other ones.  I don’t think I can take all the credit for the elimination of the cups though; at some point in the process, the Office of Sustainability began conversing with managers.  I got very excited about this, as I knew they would have a much larger voice than I did.
LBH, do you ever miss the cups?
Hahaha honestly, not really.  Like I know everyone else does because you can’t take ice cream or cereal etc. out of the dining halls now, but maybe that’s better- do you really need that extra froyo?  For me when I found out that South had gotten rid of the styrofoam cups, I was too excited to really care what other effects it would have.
Why are you so passionate about sustainability and the environment?
I’m honestly not entirely sure.  I think it has a lot to do with the amount of time I spent outdoors as a child.  My grandparents have an old house right on the bayou in Slidell that we drive over to all the time.  It’s a place I can go to and simply get away from everything else and just be.  Slidell is my favorite place in the world; it’s just a simple house in a simple setting, but it couldn’t be more beautiful. Â
To be honest, I think the main reason I’m passionate about the environment is because people are so ignorant of it and do not see sustainability as relevant when it should be top priority.  If we don’t start taking serious action, we’re won’t even have a planet to live on anymore.  There are so many simple adjustments we can make to our lives that in the long run will make a difference, and it’s a shame that people are too lazy or simply just do not care enough to make these incredibly small changes to their lives.  So many people do not believe in global warming, and to blatantly ignore the facts that are right in front of your face and all around you is absolutely absurd.  I think a lot of people are just too afraid to admit that the world is completely screwed.  The only way to change that is by changing our habits, and if we remain focused on everything but the environment, we’re just gonna keep digging our own graves.
Other Things ND
Besides saving the environment, what else are you involved in on campus?
I do a lot of graphic design work for different organizations on campus- I design posters and promotional media for the Snite Museum as well as for SUB, and I am a design assistant for Scholastic Magazine. Â It may sound like a lot of design, but I really do love it. Â My work for these organizations has also enabled me to build a portfolio at the same time.
One of Erin’s amazing graphic design products.Â
What’s your favorite part about Notre Dame?
I’d say my favorite part is meeting the kinds of new and interesting people that are so hard to find.  It takes time, but it’s worth the trouble.
Favorite dining hall meal?
When Mediterranean night actually existed, that.
Fun Things
Who’s your celebrity crush?
I very much enjoy Wes Anderson (partially because The Grand Budapest Hotel is my favorite movie). If you haven’t seen that GIF of him clapping, please look it up immediately.  He’s actually so adorable.
Also Johnny Depp.
What do you miss most about New Orleans?
I don’t think anyone really misses just one thing about New Orleans- you can’t, because there’s not just one thing that defines it.  Of course, there’s obviously not just one thing that defines any city, but I feel like this is particularly true of mine.  What I miss about New Orleans is not necessarily my best friends, or the food, or the warmth, or even my family; I just miss the city itself.  You can communicate with your friends; you can communicate with your family; you can even have food shipped to you.  But you can’t communicate with a city.  You just have to be there.  My friends can testify that I’ll preach to anyone and everyone that they simply MUST come to New Orleans.  I know I probably talk about it a bit too much, but I’m incredibly proud of where I’m from.  The city New Orleans is wholly responsible for shaping a large part of who I am today.
Also I really like this quote:
“You can live in any city in America but New Orleans is the only city that lives in you.”-Chris Rose
What’s your perfect pizza?
First of all, thin crust absolutely. But really any style pizza is good pizza. Alllll the pizza. Unless it’s Little Caesars or Pizza Hut.
Fave Disney Movie?
Either Swiss Family Robinson or The Princess Diaries– I was obsessed with both of them when I was younger; probably seen each of them at least 10 times.
Coffee or tea?
Teaaaa, particularly African Rooibos
Â
Thanks for chatting with HCND, Erin!Â
Â
Follow HCND on Twitter, like us on Facebook, Pin with us and show our Instagram some love!
Images: 1, others provided by interviewee