Next SECS Meeting This Wednesday at 6:30! 🌱

Happy Monday, SECS! Thank you to everyone who came out last Friday for the Franklin Middle School Teach-In, it was a great success!

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! Be sure to continue saving your empty milk jugs for an upcoming workshop organized by Solidarity Gardens.

Fossil Free Addendum will be debriefing their trip to Springfield on November 12th and making a plan to follow up with representatives.

Divestment Referendum (Action) will prepare for their multitude of upcoming teach-ins in the next few weeks. Sign the petition below!

Media is finishing painting their banner this week!

Education is helping prepare the slides for next Wednesday’s potluck.

Solidarity Gardens is not meeting this week.

Circular Fashion Expo is continuing work on their speech, finalizing plans for tabling, and continuing outreach for the clothing swap.

We’d like to share a brief statement regarding what happened after the Climate March earlier this semester on September 27th, 2024. Following the march, Students for Environmental Concerns and three individual board members were charged with alleged violations of the student code of conduct. We are actively working to address and seek dismissal of some of these charges. We want to reassure everyone who attended or supported the march that they are not implicated in any way and should feel proud of their participation at the march. Many of these charges relate to the university's Expressive Action Policy which seeks to restrict protest on campus and was updated as a response to the previous semester’s protests against the genocide in Gaza. Students for Environmental Concerns remains committed to advocating for climate action and environmental justice, and we appreciate the continued support from our members and the community as we navigate this process together.

 Our next meeting is Wednesday, November 13th at 6:30 p.m. at the Channing Murray Foundation (1209 W. Oregon Street).

🚨WAIT, THERE’S MORE!🚨

Sign our Divestment Referendum Petition!

Sign this petition to show your support for Fossil Fuel Divestment at the University of Illinois! Use your Illinois email when signing and follow the Fossil Free Illinois instagram for more divestment based content. You can scan the QR code above or click here. Share it with your friends!

Be Ready For our Potluck on November 20th!

During the meeting on November 20th, we will be collaborating with other environmental RSOs to host a potluck before heading home for break. If you would like to bring a dish to share, sign up here and please be sure to note any allergens directly on your dish!

Media Officer Application Open!

We will be electing a new Media Officer for the spring semester as our beloved Sophia Beem is studying abroad. If you are at all interested, please fill out this form by midnight on the 13th.

Come to Fossil Free Friday!

This Friday, from 2-3 pm at Channing Murray, FFF will be continuing outreach with representatives we talked to in Springfield!

Show up on Wednesday! Go green or go HOME!

Have something to submit to the newsletter? Fill out this form.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

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!

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 — 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]