SECS Potluck This Wednesday at 6:30! 🌱

Happy Monday, SECS! Thank you to those of you who showed up to table for the divestment referendum and to those who have been showing up to the many, many teach-ins!

We are so excited to have our potluck this week during our last meeting before Fall Break! Show up for food, friends, and brief presentations from other progressive orgs. If you bring something, please be sure to label all allergen information on the dish itself. Sign up to bring something here.

This awesome potluck is Wednesday, November 20th 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!

Media Application Opens This Week

If you applied either for the Green Observer and/or the position of Media Officer for the spring semester, be sure to fill out the official application form that will open on Wednesday.

Drop Off Clothes for the Circular Fashion Expo!

Participate in the SECS x CFE Clothing Swap by dropping off your unwanted clothes in any drop boxes during the collection period. The collection period is 11/18 through 11/22 and 12/2 through 12/5. Drop boxes are located at the Channing Murray Foundation, PAR and the Siebel Center for Design. Be sure to participate in the Circular Fashion Expo on Saturday, December 7th!

Book Club!

Interested in joining a brand new SECS book club? Fill out this interest form by Friday, November 22.

Don’t come to Fossil Free Friday!

There will be no FFF this Friday. Enjoy your break!

Show up on Wednesday! Go green or go HOME!

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

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

iCAP 2025 Forum

This Wednesday, November 20th, from 5-6:30 p.m. in 2025A SDRP, be part of the final iCAP Student Input Session! This is your last chance to share ideas for the 2025 Illinois Climate Action Plan. Dive into the progress our iCAP teams have achieved, discuss future goals, and help shape a more sustainable Illinois. Catered refreshments will be provided!

Sign a Petition to Urge Champaign Park District to Replace Annual Plants With Perennial Natives

This petition is only 33 signatures away from reaching its next goal! Add yours to support calling on the Champaign Park District to replace annual plants, which are often non-native and must be replanted each year, with native plants that require less costly care and are more suited to our ecosystem.

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]