HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 4, 2015 – High Point University students conducted a taste test challenge comparing bottled water to filtered tap water as a part of their Psychology of Social Influence course. This taste test raised awareness about the need for water conservation and reducing disposable water bottle waste.
“It is great to take what we have learned in the classroom and show other students how they can make difference,” said HPU student, Lisa Carlson. “The results of 
the taste test showed that students thought that the water from the campus filtration system tasted even better than the bottled water. We hope that because of this challenge HPU students will reduce their use of plastic water bottles by getting a reusable water bottle and refilling it with the water filters that we have all throughout campus.”
“In this course I ask my students to select a social problem and develop a Social Change Project that applies social influence principles to creatively and effectively address the problem,” said Dr. Sadie Leder Elder, assistant professor of psychology at HPU. “I could not be more proud of my students’ ability to transform course material into such a meaningful and relevant demonstration of learning.”
This project encompassed several events including a raffle, give-back nights at local restaurants and an on-campus viewing of the documentary Tapped. Throughout this semester long project, students have spread awareness through interactions with numerous campus organizations and raised hundreds of dollars in support of their campaign for conservation and clean water. All donations and proceeds from the project’s events will be donated to Clean Water for North Carolina, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote clean, safe water for communities across North Carolina.