Southern Illinois University Carbondale
EN-3: Student Life

S.E.N.S.E. (Students Embracing Nature, Sustainability, and the Environment)- a registered student organization that sought to implement a student green fee and the formation of a sustainability council. LOGIC - LOGIC is an RSO interested in expanding local food production on campus and in the surrounding community areas. SIU Restoration Club - Student organization for creating and managing native habitats on campus and the Southern Illinois surrounding area. Gaia House - Hosted by the campus interfaith center, students provide regularly scheduled programs and special events in support of spiritual development, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Environmental Law Society - Formed for law students interested in environmental, energy, and natural resource law, the mission of ELS is to encourage environmental awareness and stewardship through community involvement and sharing of appropriate news and research. Beautify Southern Illinois Student Alliance - Beautify Southern Illinois Campaign is dedicated to cleaning up the litter in southern Illinois, conducting positive environmental projects, and educating others on the importance of doing so in order to create environmental sustainability for the area. Industrial Design Society of America - IDSA Carbondale is a design-oriented RSO concerned with the relationship between people, materials, and systems of behavior surrounding the two. We look for ways to create a more sustainable future with the materials that we use, how we use them, and how we re-use them.

-LOGIC is the Local Gardening Initiative of Carbondale, a student initiated and operated organic garden on the SIUC campus that relies on student volunteers. LOGIC started in Spring 2009 with the goal of promoting sustainable food production at the local level—and this idea has proven quite successful. The students have expanded LOGIC to include raised beds, a hoop-house, and small permaculture site. The students sell their food at a local farmers market and at a weekly farm stand on campus. The garden is not certified organic but follows sustainable practices closely. -Center for Sustainable Farming -- The SIU Sustainable Farm is run by the SIU College of Agricultural Sciences and operates as a partnership between the College of Agriculture, the Sustainability Council, and University Housing. This “Farm to Fork” initiative provides a variety of organic vegetables to the Dining Halls at SIU in the early fall and late spring semesters. Examples of vegetables grown include potatoes, carrots, onions, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, bok choy, and broccoli. -Forced Aeration Composting Facility - The operation of this facility is a collaboration between the College of Agricultural Science, University Housing Dining Services, and Plant and Service Operations. The composting facility collects food waste from both dining halls and mixes it with other inputs to create compost used on campus.

The students grow produce through the LOGIC garden on campus and sell their produce at a farm stand on campus and at a stall in the local community's farmer's market.

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-This year, during the week of Earth Day, the Student Affairs team, as a part of Saluki Service Days, hosted a Sustainability and Volunteerism Fair for campus and local organizations to display opportunities related to these areas. -The College of Applied Sciences and Arts hosted a Multidisciplinary Research Symposium in October 2016, "EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: INNOVATION IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES AND ARTS." The SIU Sustainability Coordinator served as the morning keynote speaker, focusing on sustainability and innovation in the applied sciences and arts. At least 2 other sustainability related panel sessions were included in the symposium.

The Sustainable Saluki Film Series occurred in fall 2015 and spring 2016. The series offered 7 documentary films over the two semesters. These films were followed by a discussion led by faculty members or graduate assistants. In 2015, the films screened were Tapped, Plan Eat, More Than Honey, and Plastic Paradise. The Spring 2016 films included Fed Up, Revenge of the Electric Car, and Urbanized.

SIU's outdoor center, Touch of Nature, hosts a multitude of programs which are all Leave No Trace based.

In 2012-2013, the university had a “Sustainability” theme for Saluki First-Year which included several visiting readers/writers/scholars. The theme continued in 2013-2014 with “Water,” in which several visiting speakers targeted water conservation and entry-level courses revolved around this message.

SIU Carbondale housing has a program called Living Learning Communities (LLC). The Going Green Living Learning Community (LLC) is ideal for students interested in or curious about sustainability, including social, environmental, and economic concerns. Students will participate in activities designed to engage thought and action around sustainable living and solutions to modern-day challenges. In fall 2016, we have started a new EcoReps program, based out of housing. EcoReps are part of the Residence Hall student government and are the sustainability leaders for each area council.

The Sustainability Office employs both Graduate and Undergraduate students. Positions have included: Sustainability Fellows Coordinator, Sustainability Programming Specialist, Sustainability Metrics Specialist, Zero Waste Programming Specialist, Recycling Assistant, Communications and Strategy Specialist, Communications and Strategy Specialist, and Communication Assistant.

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-Sustainability Fellows: The Sustainability Fellows program addresses a critical need, getting students fully involved in green thinking and planning through education and advocacy. Sustainability Fellows focus on one or more projects of particular interest to them that meet university needs. Through the program, students also develop professional skill sets that will help them promote sustainability in future careers.