Next SECS Meeting This Wednesday at 6:30! 🌱

Welcome back, SECS! We hope your winter break was relaxing and you are excited to head into 2025 with us!

Whether you’ve never skipped a meeting or never been to one at all, join us this Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Channing Murray Foundation (1209 W. Oregon Street).

Take a look at what our working groups have on the docket this week:

Fossil Free Addendum will recap their recent day spent lobbying in Springfield over break and discuss next steps for introducing Senate-side legislation.

Divestment Referendum will give updates on the current state of the referendum and continue planning teach-ins.

Media will begin brainstorming for a new art project this semester!

Education will be brainstorming and reaching out to local schools.

Solidarity Gardens will be working on plans for future workshops.

🚨WAIT, THERE’S MORE!🚨

Submit to the Green Observer!

The Green Observer, the university’s only student-run environmental magazine, is seeking submissions for its Winter 2025 issue. This edition invites you to explore the theme of “Currents”. Whether it’s the invisible currents shaping our world or the ones pulling us in new directions, we want your perspective.

Art, essays, photography, poems, or stories must all be submitted by February 1st at 11:59 p.m. for consideration in the upcoming issue. Email [email protected] to submit and for any questions.

Sign up to table at the Student Org Expo!

The Student Org Expo is being held on February 3rd and February 4th from 6-8pm in the Illini Union. Sign up here to help us table and share what SECS is all about to prospective members!

Come to Prom!

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, February 15th from 7-10pm at the University YMCA, we will host the third annual SECS prom, featuring a potluck for the first time.

Come to Fossil Free Friday!

This Friday, from 2-3pm at the Channing Murray Foundation, come to Fossil Free Friday to help the divestment effort!

Did you know…

SECS is an affiliate of the Women’s Resource Center! The WRC is committed to enhancing campus climate and advancing gender equity at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for students of ALL genders. Click here for a full list of WRC-affiliated RSOs.

Show up on Wednesday! Go green or go HOME!

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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

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!

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.

If you’ve read this far, click here for the song of the week.

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 — Natalie Reed (she/her)
[email protected]
Editor-in-Chief of the Green Observer – Michael Gergeni (he/him)
[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]