Penn State students see the signs posted outside the doors to their classrooms asking them not to leave behind empty cups of coffee or candy bar wrappers after leaving their classes.

The signs, posted as part of the "We Are" campaign, depict talking recycling bins and trash cans crying out, "FEED US!"

"Trash cleanup costs money: your money," the signs say. "Save your money. Pick up your trash."

But do students listen?

Chris Wilber (freshman-aerospace engineering) said he has seen the signs but laughed at the thought of just how many students disregard them.

"The trash gets in the way and gets annoying, so individuals should be responsible. But I don't understand how they can be held accountable," Wilber said. "If it's the university's wishes to have nice classes, then it's their responsibility to take care of the classrooms."

The University Committee on Instructional Facilities is currently considering a measure that would prohibit food in all of University Park's general-purpose classrooms.

The committee is considering the policy because of damage that classrooms have sustained from food left there. Classroom facilities coordinator Bob Myrick said spilled coffee and soda on carpets and potato chips ground into the floors are what originally stirred the committee to action.

Some foods, such as cupcakes, leave oils on the floor that require special treatment to remove, Myrick said.

The prospective policy would also be helpful to other organizations that use general-purpose classrooms for special meetings and speakers, he said.

It is not yet certain when the policy could take effect or how it would be enforced. Myrick said it is usually helpful when instructors ask students not to bring food into the room.

"There are some instructors that do a wonderful job having respect for property," Myrick said. "They actually do make sure students carry things out."

Taylor Kenney (freshman-history) said she doesn't think professors are doing their part to help this cause.

"If the professor said something to you and took a stand, it would cut down on the amount of littering," she said.

Other staff members walking through the building could also be on the lookout for students bringing food into classrooms, Myrick said.

"If they see something that's not being complied with, they could say something to the individuals," he said.

Though Sydnee Winston (sophomore-journalism) has seen signs requesting that students not eat in computer labs, she said this has never been a problem for her since she doesn't eat in class.

"Generally in the classrooms I'm in, there's a lot of litter," Winston said. "I definitely see people who still bring in food and drink, but there's always people who disregard the rules."

Office of Physical Plant (OPP) employs 377 members for its janitorial staff at University Park, and they are responsible for cleaning each building except those used for housing and food services. Currently, the staff cleans each general-purpose classroom five nights a week.

Greg Andersen, OPP area services manager, said that even with the prospective prohibition in place, janitorial staff would follow the same cleaning schedule.

"Because of the high usage of rooms, there's always going to be a cleaning requirement," Andersen said. "I don't see a situation where we would not be cleaning five days a week."

Zach Spears (senior-political science) admitted that often he disregards the signs. As a solution to the problem, he said the amount of trash could be reduced if the university provided more time between classes.

"We'll never reach a point where we don't eat in class," Spears said. "But if it's on a small scale, it shouldn't be a problem."