Next SECS Meeting This Wednesday at 6:30! 🌱

Happy Monday! Thank you to everyone who came out last Friday to our second annual SECS prom — it was a blast!

To start your week off with some stellar news, the University of Illinois System Fossil Free Addendum has been officially introduced in the Illinois General Assembly by Representative Will Guzzardi! Check out our super official page on the General Assembly’s website here.

This week we will use the indomitable power of environmental stewardship as a way to cope with the unfortunate loss of the San Francisco 49ers last night. Come spend your Valentine’s Day fostering your love for the beautiful world we all share! As always, bring a computer!

Action and Fossil Free Addendum will be partnering this week so members of each group can get to know each other better. Action will be finalizing the presentation for the Fossil Free Illinois Coalition and starting to work on reinvestment strategies for the University’s portfolio, and Fossil Free Addendum will mobilize to educate the public on the new bill as well as seek out legislative allies.

Media will continue to work on the ecobrick block I, and Green Observer will be meeting to work on drafts for the upcoming issue. Rough drafts for the Green Observer are due tonight — don’t worry, they can be really really rough! Email anything you have so far to [email protected].

Education will create slides and prepare print material for a future letter writing/postcard sending event.

Solidarity Gardens will be outside this week to tidy up the shed.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 14th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Channing Murray Foundation (1209 W. Oregon Street).

🚨WAIT, THERE’S MORE!🚨

This Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s arrow is headed straight for the SECS bake sale. Sign up to bring treats and/or sell our delicious wares on Wednesday, February 14th from 12-4pm here! We will be selling roses along with baked goods and are looking to sustainably house the flowers. Bring any and all glass bottles to the table or drop them off at Channing Murray beforehand!

Student Elections

This week we will hear the platform of another Student Trustee candidate, Ariana Mizan. After her speech, we will vote as a club on who we want to endorse for the Student Trustee position this election cycle. Additionally, we will vote on endorsing SECS members Rudy LaFave and Hunter Farnham for Illinois Student Council President and Vice President. If you’d like to participate in this age-old democratic process, come to the meeting!

Spring Clothing Swap

Keep an eye out for an upcoming spring clothing swap. We will have more information soon, but hang onto any unwanted clothes! Updates to come :)

Show up on Wednesday! Go green or go HOME!

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fill Out a Survey to Support a Sustainability Ged Ed!

Want to support sustainability education on campus? Illinois Student Council is collaborating with iSEE to push for the creation of a sustainability general education subcategory. This would not add any additional required courses, but would support professors who include sustainability curriculum in their courses. To show the administration that students want this we created a brief survey and are hoping to get as many responses as possible. Respond here!

Contact Hunter Farnham at [email protected] with any questions.

Help Birds Stop Dying!

The UIUC Bird Strike Group seeks to reduce the number of bird deaths caused by window collisions. If you’d like to volunteer for this noble cause, attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, February 20th, at 7pm in Turner Hall W-109. Scan the QR code for more info!

Attend a Board of Commissioners Meeting to Save Weaver Park!
This Tuesday, February 13th at 7pm at 1011 E. Kerr Ave., Urbana IL 61801. the Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners will be meeting, offering an opportunity for the public to state their support for Weaver Park and give alternatives to the erasure of the park. Rides are available for those who can’t get there on their own. See this Facebook post for more information.

Sign up for an Equitable Transportation Workshop!
Researchers from iSEE, UIUC, and UIC have come together to collaborate on a workshop on equitable transitions to sustainable transportation systems. This workshop will take place from May 16th-17th at UIC. Register here.

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.

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 secret link. 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]
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer — Gabi DalSanto (she/her)
[email protected]

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