Next SECS Meeting This Wednesday at 6:30! 🌱

Welcome back to campus! I know many of you were beside yourselves without weekly SECS meetings (and weekly newsletters), but never fear – we are meeting tomorrow evening! If you’ve never been to a meeting but are looking for more ways to be an environmental activist in the new year, now is the perfect time to join!

The next Board of Trustees meeting is this Thursday, January 18th, beginning at 8am at the iHotel & Illinois Conference Center. This is a great opportunity for students to give direct comments to the board, which has ultimate power over many university policies, like our investments in fossil fuel companies. One of our members, Michael Gergeni, will be giving public comment sometime after 10:30 a.m. The iHotel is well-served by the 1 Yellow bus line for those who are able to come show support!

Our wonderful working groups are hitting the ground running this week. As always, bring a computer!

Action will be preparing for the Board of Trustees meeting and will begin a presentation for an upcoming fossil free Illinois coalition building call.

Media will be getting organized and brainstorming ideas for the upcoming semester.

Education will begin planning workshops for an upcoming action week.

UIS Fossil Free Addendum will focus on reaching out to Illinois General Assembly members regarding sponsorship of the addendum.

Solidarity Gardens will not be going outside (phew) but will continue to update the spring 2024 planting list.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 17th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Channing Murray Foundation (1209 W. Oregon Street).

🚨Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Position Open Soon!🚨

We are looking to fill the board position of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the spring semester. Be on the lookout for the form to apply for this awesome position in the Discord, our LinkTree, and in next week’s newsletter!

Show up on Wednesday! Go green or go HOME!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Visit TORIIS and take action!

TORIIS.earth is an organization that makes transparent the University of Illinois Systems inves tments 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.

Attend a relationships training with the Campus Climate Network!
On Sunday, January 21st, from 1-2 pm Central, attend a virtual training focusing on building just relationships with the Campus Climate Network. This training is meant to be a start at helping bridge the gap between social justice organizations and climate activists. Register here.

Attend a media training with the Campus Climate Network!
On Sunday, January 28th, from 1-2pm Central, attend a virtual training focusing on press and media training. This training includes building relationships with journalists, making pitches, and more! Register here.

Attend a workshop with the Illinois Environmental Council!
This Friday, January 19th from 12:30-2pm Central, attend Civics for Environmentalists (and other advocates, too!) with the Illinois Environmental Council. This event trains up Illinoisans to advocate effectively for environmental causes. Register here.

Sign this petition!
Go here to sign a petition calling on President Biden and the Department of Energy to stop the construction of over 20 new liquified natural gas export facilities that would produce the same amount of emissions as 675 coal-fired power plants. Just one of these 20 facilities, known as CP2, would cause 20 times as much carbon pollution as Alaska’s Willow Project.

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.

Sign the petition to save Weaver Park!

Weaver Park is a natural landscape in east Urbana that is currently at risk of being converted into soccer and baseball fields. To protect this park with inherent value, sign this petition.

If you’ve read this far, give some consideration to clicking right here for this week’s New Year-themed surprise. Come again!

Contact Us!
President — Danika Ford (she/her)
[email protected]
Vice President — Rudy LaFave (he/him)
[email protected]
Treasurer — Averhy Sanborn (she/her)
[email protected]
Secretary — Julia San Miguel (she/her)
[email protected]
Action Coordinator — Trey McCallister (he/him)
[email protected]
Education Officer — Claire Sullivan (she/her)
[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]