Next SECS Meeting This Wednesday at 6:30! 🌱

Happy Monday, SECS! Thank you to all who came out for Green Quad Day last week – it’s so great to see the plethora of environmental organizations campus has to offer.

This week, our SECS-y working groups will continue fighting the good fight. Feel free to check out whatever group interests you, and make sure to bring a computer!

Fossil Free Addendum will be doing check-ins and email writing, and prepping for phone banking on Friday.

Action is starting up work on our annual pumpkin composting event, where we compost leftover Halloween pumpkins!

Media will keep painting and discuss drafts for the upcoming edition of the Green Observer.

Education is creating a Women’s Resource Center presentation.

Solidarity Gardens will be finishing repairs to the garden beds and painting this week.

Circular Fashion Expo will be finishing up the expo’s task timeline.

Divestment Referendum is a new working group dedicated to gathering public support for a student referendum to divest the university from fossil fuels. Get involved to get out the vote!

Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 9th at 6:30 p.m. at the Channing Murray Foundation (1209 W. Oregon Street).

🚨WAIT, THERE’S MORE!🚨

Register to Vote Right Now at the YMCA!

From now at the YMCA until 8pm, stop by to register to vote or confirm your voter registration status and fill out a mock ballot. Help SECS win merch by having the most voting-conscious participants!

Come to the Halloween Costume Ball!

Join SECS for a spooky night of fun on Saturday, October 19th from 8-10:30 pm at the Channing Murray Foundation! $5 cover at the door 🎃🍂 Dress in costume for a chance to win a gift card to The Idea Store, a second-hand store with plenty of knick-knacks and creative supplies! 🧶🎨 We can't wait to dance with you all. See you there! 💃

Come to Fossil Free Friday!

This Friday, from 2-3 pm at Channing Murray, FFF will be phone banking by calling our legislators.

Come to the SSLC Barn Dance!

The Student Sustainability Leadership Council is selling tickets for an upcoming barn dance on October 22nd. Fill out this form for more information and to find out where to pick up wristbands! The last day to buy tickets is October 11th.

Show up on Wednesday! Go green or go HOME!

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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Come to the trash pickup at Everitt Lab!

On Thursday Oct 10, participants will meet outside Everitt Lab at 4 p.m. and collect trash around campus until 5:30 p.m. before reconvening outside Everett. This is a great volunteer opportunity — bring your friends and help clean up our campus!

America Recycles Day at Boneyard Creek Litter Clean-Up Event

On Saturday, October 26th from 10am-noon, meet at the north end of the N. First St. Parking Lot next to Prosperity Gardens at 302 N. First St. to join in on America Recycles Day, a program of Keep America Beautiful. All clean-up equipment is provided, and free pizza will be provided right after the event! Please pre register here if you are planning on attending.

Win Money to Make A Climate Justice Short Film

Between September 9, 2024 and January 10, 2025, submit a short film concept grounded in a current issue involving climate justice or how climate change intersects with social justice, presenting it in a way that leaves the audience feeling hopeful. The top 2 pitches will receive $10K to create their films, mentoring sessions from film professionals, and the grand prize winner (selected from the top two) will win an additional $2k in cold hard cash—just what your wallet needs! Head here for more information.

Help birds stop dying!

The UIUC Bird Strike group is made up of some awesome students who are looking to reduce bird deaths caused by window collisions. Go here for more information or if you’re interested in volunteering!

4th Annual Reimagine our Future Sustainability Competition

This undergraduate sustainability competition asks students to develop an innovate plan or solution that promotes one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while taking account of other relevant SDGs. In doing so, students will address a particular sustainability problem or challenge which could be at a local, regional, national, or international level anywhere in the world. Register by October 7th! More info here.

Join the Climate Grief Group

Feeling the weight of climate change? You're not alone. Many of us are struggling with grief, anxiety, and a sense of loss as we watch our planet change. The Climate Grief Group is a safe, supportive space where we can talk openly about our climate-related emotions and learn how to cope together. We'll explore our feelings, build resilience, and find ways to turn that grief into positive action. Let's connect, heal, and support each other as we work towards a more just and sustainable future. This group meets virtually on Tuesdays between September 24th and October 29th at 1pm and is led by a licensed, climate-aware therapist. Pay what you can. Register here.

Visit TORIIS and take action

TORIIS.earth is an organization that makes transparent the University of Illinois Systems investments and visualizes this data through an environmental lens. Throughout TORIIS, you can explore in depth the University of Illinois Systems’ investments, understand the scope and impact of its investments in the fossil fuel industry, and take action by signing the open letter requesting fossil fuel divestment from the University of Illinois.

Listen to the SECS talk
Listen here to our sustainability-focused podcast, the SECS talk! The most recent episode’s guest is Lina Avalos, a student at UIUC and an environmental justice advocate from the Southeast side of Chicago.

Contact Us!
President — Rudy LaFave (he/him)
[email protected]
Vice President — Claire Sullivan (she/her)
[email protected]
Treasurer — Averhy Sanborn (she/her)
[email protected]
Secretary — Julia San Miguel (she/her)
[email protected]
Action Co-Coordinator — Trey McCallister (he/him)
[email protected]
Action Co-Coordinator — Gabi DalSanto (she/they)
[email protected]
Media Officer — Sophia Beem (she/her)
[email protected]
Community Chair — Joya Weissman (she/her)
[email protected]
Land Management Chair — Liam Henry (he/him)
[email protected]
Outreach Coordinator — Izzy Wilder (she/her)
[email protected]
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer — Fatima Naveed (she/her)
[email protected]