Carolyn Ashley ’14 works with students from the nearby Christ the King Community Preschool, who spent a morning digging, weeding and planting in the IWU Peace Garden.
Category Archives: IWU in Action
Give-N-Go Time Again
As students move out of the residence halls, their textiles and household items will be collected to benefit Home Sweet Home Ministries.
This program was initiated in spring 2012 by Leadership McLean County. A similar collection during move-in days in the fall collected and recycled more than 700 pounds of cardboard.
Battery Recycling Available On Campus
Making a Difference
Just 6 months after installation, two hydration stations at Illinois Wesleyan have diverted the equivalent of more than 32,000 16-ounce, one-time-use water bottles.
Through the efforts of Student Senate, Sierra Student Coalition and Physical Plant, the two hydration stations were installed in the fall of 2012 in the Presser Hall main lobby and the Center for Natural Science lobby, to provide students convenient access to filtered water and reduce single-use water bottles on campus.
Grant Awarded to IWU Peace Garden
Dylan Madden ’13, working as an intern for the Environmental Studies program, was awarded a $456.98 grant from the McLean County Wellness Coalition (MCWC) for the IWU Peace Garden. See reports in The Pantagraph and WJBC radio.
The Peace Garden was one of 17 local organizations that received a portion of nearly $8,000 in grant funds for their community garden projects. MCWC recognizes that community gardens bring value to the community by increasing the availability of fresh produce, connecting neighborhoods, providing a healthy activity and teaching important lessons about nature. Successful grant applicants demonstrated how a new or existing community garden will benefit the sponsoring organization and the community as a whole.
Earth Hour
8:30-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 23
The campus community is invited to participate in Earth Hour 2013 by turning off nonessential lights and equipment for one hour, in a symbolic effort to raise awareness about how energy efficiency and conservation can help reduce the impacts of global climate change.
The Expo’s FREE-4-ALL
Don’t throw it away! Give it away!
In the tradition of Ecology Action Center’s semi-annual FREE-4-ALL, we will be creating an opportunity to give away your unwanted stuff and to take what you like — for free.
Here are the rules:
– Household Items — Knick-knacks, lamps, vases, paintings, prints etc. Items must be clean and in good condition.
– No large furniture.
– Men’s & women’s clothing. (Adult sizes only. Clothes must be clean and in good shape.)
For the Kids — FREE-4-ALL Toy Giveaway!
Bring in your gently used toys to give away to others. Toys must be in good shape (all parts and pieces, etc.) and clean.
Please bring items that deserve a second life to the Wellness Office by Friday, April 5.
Please contact us with questions or if you need help with pick-up, ext. 3334 or wellness@iwu.edu.
Donated items will be available at the Illinois Sustainable Living & Wellness Expo
on Saturday, April 13
9 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Shirk Center
Campus Highlights
– The IWU Peace Garden is now making weekly deliveries of greens to Station Two Twenty. Danny Kenny ’13 reported at the Feb. 28 GREENetwork meeting that the owner-chefs have visited the garden and are excited about the partnership.
– Student Senate awarded funding to the Sierra Student Coalition to explore the installation of hydration stations in The Ames Library and Hansen Student Center. Hydration stations provide filtered water and encourage the use of refillable water bottles instead of plastic.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is also investigating the feasibility of installing a hydration station in the Shirk Center.
Hydration stations have previously been installed in Presser Hall and CNS, and will be available in State Farm Hall.
Kick-Off for a Stylish Mission!
Mission Mart
Thursday, Feb. 28
6:30 p.m.
Ecology Action Center invites you to participate in the 2013 Renewable Fashion Challenge. This event is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate your passion for protecting the environment while showcasing your style. We’re encouraging participants to choose a “look” from a magazine and recreate it using secondhand clothing from area thrift stores. Participants will then model their creations at a runway show at the Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo at Shirk Center on Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m.
There will be a kick-off to celebrate this challenge at the Mission Mart in Bloomington on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. This kick-off is a great opportunity to learn more about the challenge and get started on your stylish mission! Participants are encouraged to pre-register before Feb. 28 in order to receive a $10 Mission Mart gift certificate at the kick-off; however, you may submit your application for the Challenge any time before April 5.
For more information, contact: Sara Vore, (309) 556-3334, svore@iwu.edu
Climate Change Rally: Defeat Keystone XL Pipeline
Monday, Feb. 18
12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
Hansen Student Center
Some 24 hours after the climate change rally planned in Washington, D.C. (expected to be the largest in history), Illinois Wesleyan will have its own: “Climate Change rally: Defeat the Keystone XL Pipeline.”
Members of the campus community are invited to come to Hansen Student Center to hear speakers, music and short videos to learn more about the pipeline project, climate change and what you can do.
Co-sponsored by: Sierra Student Coalition (SSC), College Democrats, Student Senate, ORL Sustainability Educators and the Environmental Studies Program.
In a related project, SSC is looking for volunteers to interview about the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline.
If you are interested in sharing your opinions (for or against) the proposed Keystone XL pipeline for a short video to be shown on campus, please contact Mark Hansen (mhansen1@iwu.edu). Interviews will be held on Feb. 4.