Dionte Berry
Contributing Writer
[email protected]

The Advocating for Respect Culture organization and the Murray Environmental Student  Society met in the Curris Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29 to discuss the effects of climate change and how it can be combated on a local level.
President of ARC Lily Grieve, junior biomedical sciences major, often teams up with other organizations and nonprofits to have Taboo Talks.
“A Taboo Talk is when we partner with another organization and they present and discuss a topic that’s important to them, but hard for most to talk about,” Grieve said.
This Taboo Talk was centered around climate change and how it can be affected on a local level. The presentation gave a series of simple tips that can help one live more environmentally friendly.
ARC discussed several solutions such as reducing waste and plastic use, as well as how to educate oneself on environmental issues. A lasting sentiment that ARC wanted to leave listeners with was, “any way you can help is the best way.”
Taboo Talk is a means to create a safe space for people to talk and become informed over controversial or polarizing issues.
“We want people to have a better understanding of each other and by increasing education and decreasing judgement we hope to increase respect culture,” Grieve said.
ARC was first established as a sexual assault advocacy program. Within the past year, the organization has expanded to advocate for multiple issues debated in society.
“We still have meetings set specifically for women’s history month and sexual assault awareness month,” Grieve said. “Now with most of our meetings, we try to give a voice to those that need support and their cause.”
Grieve welcomes everyone into the organization.
“ARC is an open organization that you can join at any time,” Grieve said. “None of our events are exclusive. Come learn more about us.”
President of MESS Steven Collet, senior geology major, also participated in the Taboo Talk. MESS is an awareness group on campus.
“The purpose of MESS is to be the environmentally conscious voice of Murray State,” Collet said. “We also provide education about the environment, and also have fun activities such as camping and hiking.”
Collet and five other position-holding members lead the club. Each of the leaders have different reasons for wanting to spread environmental awareness.
Vice President Darren Paris was inspired to fight climate change by the grim outlook of the future that was published by environmentalists.
“Reading what all the scientists say we have to look forward to is pretty grim,” Paris said. “This motivated me to become educated and try to make a change.”
Paris said the organization is an outlet for people who care and are interested in the environment. MESS is open to everyone who wants to learn how to be environmentally conscious.
MESS holds weekly meetings Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Blackburn Science Building. ARC meets every other Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Women’s Center Building. The next meeting will be on Feb. 11. Email Grieve at [email protected] for more details or consult the group’s Facebook page @MSUARC and instagram page @murraystatearc. and the Murray Environmental Student  Society met in the Curris Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29 to discuss the effects of climate change and how it can be combated on a local level.
President of ARC Lily Grieve, junior biomedical sciences major, often teams up with other organizations and nonprofits to have Taboo Talks.
“A Taboo Talk is when we partner with another organization and they present and discuss a topic that’s important to them, but hard for most to talk about,” Grieve said.
This Taboo Talk was centered around climate change and how it can be affected on a local level. The presentation gave a series of simple tips that can help one live more environmentally friendly.
ARC discussed several solutions such as reducing waste and plastic use, as well as how to educate oneself on environmental issues. A lasting sentiment that ARC wanted to leave listeners with was, “any way you can help is the best way.”
Taboo Talk is a means to create a safe space for people to talk and become informed over controversial or polarizing issues.
“We want people to have a better understanding of each other and by increasing education and decreasing judgement we hope to increase respect culture,” Grieve said.
ARC was first established as a sexual assault advocacy program. Within the past year, the organization has expanded to advocate for multiple issues debated in society.
“We still have meetings set specifically for women’s history month and sexual assault awareness month,” Grieve said. “Now with most of our meetings, we try to give a voice to those that need support and their cause.”
Grieve welcomes everyone into the organization.
“ARC is an open organization that you can join at any time,” Grieve said. “None of our events are exclusive. Come learn more about us.”
President of MESS Steven Collet, senior geology major, also participated in the Taboo Talk. MESS is an awareness group on campus.
“The purpose of MESS is to be the environmentally conscious voice of Murray State,” Collet said. “We also provide education about the environment, and also have fun activities such as camping and hiking.”
Collet and five other position-holding members lead the club. Each of the leaders have different reasons for wanting to spread environmental awareness.
Vice President Darren Paris was inspired to fight climate change by the grim outlook of the future that was published by environmentalists.
“Reading what all the scientists say we have to look forward to is pretty grim,” Paris said. “This motivated me to become educated and try to make a change.”
Paris said the organization is an outlet for people who care and are interested in the environment. MESS is open to everyone who wants to learn how to be environmentally conscious.
MESS holds weekly meetings Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Blackburn Science Building. ARC meets every other Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Women’s Center Building. The next meeting will be on Feb. 11. Email Grieve at [email protected] for more details or consult the group’s Facebook page @MSUARC and instagram page @murraystatearc.