Charleston Lake is not a trash can.

I went fishing yesterday with some friends at Charleston Lake and was thoroughly disgusted with the high level of pollution we found.

As an avid cyclist, I like to ride to the lake and often ride to Lake View Trails with friends to fish.

Yesterday we decided to try our luck on a rock barrier. It seemed like a good spot with some deep water.

Sadly, as we walked we encountered a large amount of litter.

It was disgusting-everything from broken beer bottles to food containers and fishing tackle.

It was clear that people had used the area to hang out and party.

While I believe that all should enjoy our natural resources, this is unacceptable.

Whoever did this should be banned from using the lake.

Charleston Lake is a great place, and when someone literally trashes an area, others cannot use it as it should be.

My friends and I should not have had to step over broken glass or look at a landscape covered in chip bags and foam cups.

I am especially mad as a college student, knowing more likely than not, my fellow students left the majority of that trash there.

Come on guys. Clean it up.

This is a recurring problem.

When I ride through town I can pick out which houses are owned by Charleston residents, and which houses are being rented by college students who just don’t care.

We are students who are spending a lot of time and money to educate ourselves so that we can start our careers.

Is an environment covered in empty pizza boxes and beer bottles the way anything should start?

The Daily Eastern News’ last Paws and Claws talked about some students feeling they are stereotyped.

I don’t blame them when a secluded part of the lake looks exactly like certain houses in town on a Saturday morning.

Litter is not just an issue of having a dirty environment-it’s a mental and physical problem.

When there’s something covered with trash, we think less of it and treat it without respect.

Garbage is a serious health problem.

Dirty areas need to be cleaned or they can cause illness.

The foam cups, chip bags, and other trash release dangerous chemicals into the water. As humans we have the responsibility to properly dispose of our trash.

James Roedl can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmroedl@eiu.edu