Indiana University Bloomington
Tier2-1: Student Group

The Student Sustainability Council (SSC) brings together representatives of many student organizations to advance issues of sustainability on the IUB campus. Member organizations of the SSC include undergraduate and graduate student organizations as well as student government bodies. Some members focus principally on sustainability issues, while others have broader missions. All groups recognize the importance of sustainability and work together to make IU a cleaner, healthier, happier place to live, learn, and work. Current member organizations with SSC include: Alpha Phi Omega (APO): Alpha Phi Omega is a National Service Fraternity -- college students gathered together in an organization based on fraternalism and founded on the principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service. Its aim is to further the freedom that is our national, educational and intellectual heritage. APO, specifically the Mu Chapter at Indiana University Bloomington, is open to any IUB student who would like to join. Given that they do not have a house, members of social fraternities and sororities are welcome as well as anyone who lives in a residence hall or off-campus. APO has partnered with IU’s Volunteers in Sustainability (ViS) on various sustainability-oriented community service projects, including helping out with a trash audit that documented all of the trash put in dumpsters around campus that could actually be recycled (about 50%). http://www.indiana.edu/~apo Coal Free IU: Coal Free IU is a grassroots student organization committed to transitioning Indiana University off of coal generated power to 100% clean and renewable energy. The group is part of the national Beyond Coal campaign sponsored by the Sierra Student Coalition and the Sierra Club, the nation's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization. http://coalfreeiu.wordpress.com/. Environmental Law Society (ELS): The specific goals of ELS are to promote the organization, local community awareness and education concerning the environment; to provide an interface between the student body and the legal community, to represent the student body’s interest in environmental law within the law school community, throughout the State of Indiana, and in cooperation with other schools and environmental groups. The ELS seeks to provide a forum for critique and/or support of the legal system, current laws and regulations, and actions undertaken by other groups that concern the environment. http://www.law.indiana.edu/students/activities/environmental Environmental Management Association (EMA): EMA's goal is to encourage environmental stewardship, promote careers in environmental management, and assist in career development by sponsoring workshops, presentations, and activities which provide students with relevant information, skills and networking opportunities. http://www.indiana.edu/~iuema/ Global Brigades at IU: Global Business Brigades at Indiana University strives to create a level of sustainability in third world countries, in particular, Panama. They do this by consulting microenterprises on week-long trips to rural areas of Panama. Students are able to learn about the Panamanian culture while teaching community members basic knowledge of business concepts learned here at Indiana University. http://iugbb.weebly.com/ Graduate Professional Student Organization (GPSO): The fundamental mission of the Indiana University Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSO) is to serve and advocate for the interests of graduate and professional students on the Bloomington campus. Having gained formal recognition as the government of the graduate and professional students at IUB, the GPSO functions as a united voice to express the concerns of this population to the administration, student body, and Bloomington community. http://www.indiana.edu/~gpso/ Greeks go Green (GGG): The purpose of the organization, Greeks Go Green, is to provide awareness and facilitate the move to a more environmentally friendly Greek community. Greeks Go Green will distribute information to the Greek community on ways to become more sustainable, as well as assist in getting all Greek houses recycling programs. Above all, Greeks Go Green wants to set an example for the campus as a whole. http://www.indiana.edu/~ggg/. Indiana Public Interest Research Group (INPIRG): Throughout the 1970s, and now since 1997, students who have been involved with their INPIRG campus chapter have not only learned how to investigate a problem and come up with a practical solution. We've also learned how to convince the media and decision-makers to pay attention and take action. In other words, through INPIRG we gain an educational experience in democratic citizenship. In addition, we get a chance to face up to society's big problems, take action, and win concrete changes that improve the quality of our lives. https://www.inpirg.org/iu IU Student Association (IUSA): The IU Student Association is a congregation of Indiana University students that work to protect student rights, enrich student life, and improve Indiana University. Students join together to voice common concerns, hopes, grievances, and most importantly, to take action to realize an even stronger University. http://iusa.indiana.edu/ IU Student Foundation (IUSF): The mission of the IU Student Foundation is to create student leadership opportunities by conducting campus events that raise funding for working student scholarships; as well as guide the undergraduate student toward recognition and appreciation of his or her future role as a meaningful, supportive Indiana University alumnus. http://www.iusf.indiana.edu/ NetImpact: Net Impact Undergrad is an exciting new program started in 2007 through a pilot program with 24 undergraduate programs. A recent Net Impact survey demonstrated a large demand in undergraduate business schools for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. With more than 10,000 members in six continents, Net Impact is a rapidly growing organization that mirrors the growth of these issues in the corporate world. Net Impact's membership has traditionally focused on MBAs, graduate students, and young professionals who wish to leverage their influence for the benefit of society, the economy, and the environment. Due to the huge success of the undergraduate pilot program, the organization created Net Impact Undergrad. The Kelley School of Business's Environmental Business Club (EBC) became a chapter in October 2008 due to common goals shared with Net Impact around issues of sustainability and CSR in the corporate world. The EBC saw the organization as a way to leverage their initiatives on a international level with the strong network and exhaustive resources that Net Impact provides. http://kelley.iu.edu/ebc/whatIsImpact.asp. Residence Halls Association (RHA): Indiana's Residence Halls Association is committed to developing and maintaining a safe, respectful and productive student environment, and to empowering this community of students and protect its interests while contributing to the greater community of IU and beyond. To do this, RHA provides leadership opportunities, programs and social interaction in an academic environment, is an active channel of communication that creates proactive solutions while effectively representing our residents to the university, and exposes the student community to diverse, new ideas and experiences in order to improve and preserve residents’ quality of life. This includes environmentalist and sustainability-themed goals and initiatives. http://rha.indiana.edu/ Revitalizing Animal Well-Being: RAW is comprised of IU students who care about and are interested in animal welfare issues. https://myinvolvement.indiana.edu/Community?action=getOrgHome&orgID=310. Slow Food on Campus Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE): SIFE is an international of student, academic, and business leaders who have made a commitment to create a better world with better leaders - individuals who have the ability and are willing to put forth the effort to make a meaningful contribution to improve the lives of others. http://www.iub.edu/~sifeiub/ SPROUTS: SPROUTS' mission is to bring IU students and other Bloomington residents together to learn about the process of organic food production. Whether your dream is to grow modest amounts of non-toxic food for your own table, or larger amounts for local, regional, or national distribution, our sustainable student organization will help you achieve it. In this way, we are the change we wish to see and, we cultivate the land to cultivate ourselves and each other. http://www.indiana.edu/~sustain/Clearinghouse/Students_Producing_Organics_under_the_Sun_(SPROUTS).html Sustainable Development Association (SDA): The Sustainable Development Association aims to serve as a resource for prospective students navigating the sustainable development concentration at IU's School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), inform concentration members about career opportunities and field expansion, connect the SPEA community with other sustainability efforts on campus and in Bloomington, and create a forum for discussing policy in the field of sustainable development. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105068978918 VIS: IU Volunteers in Sustainability is an umbrella organization, coordinating environmentally oriented volunteer activities on the IU campus and facilitating communication between student and community environmental groups. VIS holds bi-weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 7pm. http://www.indiana.edu/~sustain/VIS/index.html http://iubssc.wikispaces.com/Members The Office of Sustainability also offers a guide to environmental and sustainability-related student and community organizations including: Organizations through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs: Environmental Management Association (EMA): See member organizations of SSC above Sustainable Development Association (SDA): See member organizations of SSC above Organizations through the Maurer School of Law: Environmental Law Society (ELS): See member organizations of SSC above Campus-wide organizations: Students Producing Organics Under the Sun (SPROUTS): See member organizations of SSC above Volunteers in Sustainability (VIS): See member organizations of SSC above Organizations associated with Greek Life: Greeks Go Green (GGG): See member organizations of SSC above Residence Halls Association (RHA): See member organizations of SSC above E-Force: E-Force is the student environmentalism group within Collins Living Learning Center. E-Force holds meetings twice a month, about environmental happenings within Collins and the community. Once a month, E-Force puts on environmental programs such as film-viewings, speakers, and field trips. They work with other environmental groups around campus and the Bloomington community such as the Volunteers in Sustainability and the RHA Directors of Environmentalism. E-Force is in charge of recycling around Collins and runs a student recycling program. Everyone at Collins is welcome to get involved with E-Force, however only Collins residents can be E-Force members. http://www.indiana.edu/~llc Community Organizations: Indiana Public Interest Research Group (INPIRG): See member organizations of SSC above Sierra Student Coalition (SSC): The Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) is a broad network of high school and college-aged youth from across the country working to protect the environment. The SSC is the youth-led chapter of the Sierra Club, the nation's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization. Our mission is simple: "to train, empower, and organize youth to run effective campaigns that result in tangible environmental victories and that develop leaders for the environmental movement." With more than 250 groups nationwide, the SSC develops environmental leaders through our award-winning grassroots trainings programs and works to maximize our campus-based effectiveness through the creation and maintenance of state and regional networks of high school and college students. http://ssc.sierraclub.org/. Student Sustainability Council Affiliates: Alpha Phi Omega (APO): See member organizations of SSC above Volunteer Students Bureau (VSB): Volunteer Students Bureau is a volunteer organization dedicated to serving its general members by providing multiple volunteer opportunities throughout the year. https://myinvolvement.indiana.edu/Community?action=getOrgHome&orgID=611. IU Student Association (IUSA): See member organizations of SSC above Graduate Professional Student Organization (GPSO): See member organizations of SSC above http://www.indiana.edu/~sustain/Involved/ Other student groups that are associated with sustainability include: Green Teams (24 currently): Green Teams are informal groups of staff, faculty and students interested in promoting environmentally-friendly practices and operations in the places they live, learn and work. http://www.indiana.edu/~sustain/Green_Teams/index.html Indiana Ecuador Partnership for Sustainable Development: The Indiana-Ecuador Partnership for Sustainable Development (IEPSD) is an Indiana University-based organization dedicated to promoting integrated sustainable development in Ecuador, while providing an opportunity for IU students to learn about the fundamentals of sustainable development and the diverse cultural background of Ecuador. IEPSD’s first major effort is the San Gerardo Community Project, which provides technical and financial assistance to support the small rural community of Paquibug San Gerardo in its social and economic development projects. It will provide funding, technical assistance, and dedicated volunteers and interns. http://www.indiana.edu/~sustain/Clearinghouse/Indiana-Ecuador_Project_for_Sustainable_Development.html IU Green Campus (IUGC): Our goal is to work with the administration, staff, and students of Indiana University to establish healthier, more sustainable groundskeeping and outdoor practices on our beautiful campus. We aim to reduce pesticides, create more wildlife habitats, improve air quality, and create learning opportunities for students outdoors. http://mypage.iu.edu/~nriedle/iugc.html Repower IU (Repower America of Indiana University): Founded by Al Gore, Repower America is dedicated to revitalizing our economy, strengthening our national security and solving the climate crisis through clean energy. The Repower America campaign is a growing nationwide grassroots campaign of more than 2 million people dedicated to persuading our leaders to support solutions to the climate crisis and a transition to a clean energy economy. This group (Repower IU) is for students, alumni, faculty, and staff members of Indiana University who promote and support the efforts of Repower America. http://repoweramerica.org/. Students For Sustainable Food (SFSF): Sustainable food is characterized by its ability to be healthy, fresh, tasty, (bio)regional, seasonal, equitably distributed, and ethically produced with minimal ecological impact on current and future generations. Since eating together is a community-building activity, we believe that purchasing, cooking, and sharing sustainable food will both support the local economy and help students find their place in the Bloomington community. As students strengthen their connection to the local community, they may begin to see themselves as stewards of the land that provides their sustenance while learning how their individual choices affect the global community. Ideally, students who attend IUB will take this knowledge with them wherever they choose to live. SFSF hopes to educate students about how to make sustainable food choices while making more options available in and accessible to our community.