As the current president of the Outdoor Environmental Club, I feel a need to provide some commentary on one of the essential landmarks of the city of Beloit: a tributary of the Mississippi river, which makes it a small branch of a vital body of water.
Ever since I arrived in Beloit, I have heard the Rock River described as a polluted piece of crap. Stories abound about students taking a dip in the river, often told for the sake of eliciting disgust in the listener. Even as the OEC president, I cannot confirm or deny in full certainty the fact that past OEC members took a trip to swim in the Rock River. Simply put, there is much lore to the watery heart of Beloit, even when just considering the college.
The idea of hosting a trash pick-up event for the Rock River has been debated by OEC for a while. The community service commitments of sororities and fraternities have been our main angle to play when trying to gather up participants for these excursions. The amount of coordination has been the main obstacle, but I am hoping that the decentralization of OEC and our reduced distance from the rest of campus will help us make these plans a reality.
Night walks along the Rock River have been a staple event for the club. Riverside Park is a great third place that I wish I could visit more. I do not think it would be a bad idea for more clubs, and the college in general, to use the park as much as possible. The Powerhouse has somewhat of a monopoly on club event spaces, which is a bit of a problem when it comes to making every event a unique experience.
For me, the Rock River proves that the beauty of nature perseveres even when in distress. Walking alongside the river will result in encountering at least a few folks enjoying the water. Fishing in the river is a pastime for some Beloit residents. I imagine that even folks that are normally disgusted by the waterway would not turn down a post-dinner saunter over the Wood Family Fishing Bridge (the official name for the train-topped blue bridge). The sunsets viewed from a booth in Hamilton’s would not be as stunning if the river was not below to reflect the flickering light.
Featured image: Betty Cavicchia’28
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