By Audrey La | Photographer
Over the course of the pandemic, I, like many other people, became a plant lover. For reference, at the start of freshman year, I bought one small plant to liven up my dorm room. Now, I am the proud parent of a small army of plants, ranging from tiny cuttings I’ve taken during vacations to a 5-foot-long trailing pothos that I drove an hour and a half to get. Although I haven’t done a personal experiment to prove that these plants have reduced my stress or increased my happiness, I can anecdotally confirm that they absolutely have, and that is the reason why I am preaching the plant gospel truth.
Already, there are many plants that can be found throughout Baylor’s campus. In the Baylor Sciences Building, there are many plants that greet students as they go from class to class. In Carroll Science Hall, there are a few healthy, beautiful plants dotting the building. In the Sid Richardson Building, my favorite plant is an enormous pothos that spills onto the floor. In the interest of student and faculty health, I propose that there be more plants in even more buildings like Castellaw Communications Center, the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation and any others that don’t have a strong plant population.
If you need scientific proof to be convinced, there have been many studies pointing to the health benefits of having plants indoors. The University of Technology in Sydney has a comprehensive pamphlet that outlines the benefits of having plants in buildings. To be more specific, here are some individual studies that show how plants reduce anxiety, positively affect work environments and hospitals and improve productivity. Additionally, there are the obvious physical benefits that come with having plants filter the air.
If Baylor implements this plant-forward policy, I see no downsides. Building spaces will be more inviting, students will have lower stress levels and everyone will benefit from cleaner air. Additionally, there could be an added educational element if Baylor adds fact sheets to each plant pot listing the plant’s name, country of origin and any other fun facts.
This is my plea to Baylor administration, President Linda Livingstone and the Board of Regents: please heed my call and put more plants in Baylor’s buildings. The health of the students and staff depends on it.
