On November 16 of last year, Reslife announced that “give-and-takes,” where students leave unwanted clothing items in a location for others to pick sweet treats from, were hereby prohibited. The Round Table’s features editor, Svea Jones’25, reported that Reslife wanted to relieve student workers of monitoring unregulated locations for items like trash and foodstuff. However, as this policy meant “books, clothes, items, and appliances would be inaccessible to students who don’t have transportation” or financial means, the idea of “give-and-takes” needed to be reevaluated to continue this necessary feature of campus living.
On Friday, February 2, the Sustainability Channel hosted a clothing exchange in the Carson Club Hub of the Powerhouse, right by the front desk. Simone Aurelie de Montigny’26, who works for the Sustainability Channel, said this exchange was a good stand-in for give-and-takes, as it still features the integral elements of reuse and sustainability without allowing the possibility of unwanted items (like a sack of potatoes) finding their way in. The exchange only lasted for a couple of hours, though, a clear drawback that doesn’t allow for many students with time conflicts to have access. “It would be awesome if we could have a give-and-take that could be productive and clean,” Simone said. “I want a give-and-take with only the beautiful bits.”
Sustainability is a huge feature of give-and-takes, as there will always be “things in [your] closet you don’t wear, but other people might,” Maij Sprenger-Otto’24, who also works for the Sustainability Channel, said. Also, “it’s always fun to get something new.” This reporter found a beautiful sweater at the exchange, which was wonderful. Lili Edwards’26, speaking for the Round Table’s own Arts Editor Ella Silva’26, boasted “a big pink robe with feathers on the sleeves. The kind people wear after they murder their husband, but hot pink.” Briana Perez’25 showed off their T-Rex shirt, and Simone flexed that they once found a great pair of mittens, “the kind with fingers and a little hat.”
Exchangers and perusers discussed the importance of exchanges like this. They reduce waste and bring the community together. One commented on being inspired by other students’ fashion choices.
After the exchange, the winter clothing items that were left over were placed in a bin, which Students for an Inclusive Campus (SIC) will place in the Powerhouse for students in need of winter wear.
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