In the College Sustainability Report Card 2011, released Oct. 27 by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, Illinois Wesleyan received an overall grade of “C.”

This continues our improvement from a “D-” two years ago, when we first participated in the study, and a “D+” last year.

We made our greatest progress in the areas of “Food & Recycling” and “Student Involvement.”

• View our Green Report Card online
• Or download a pdf
• Find our Green Report Cards from past years on the GREENetwork Resources page

Saturday, November 13

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shirk Center Parking Lot (off Titan Drive)

IWU’s GREENetwork and the City of Bloomington will be bringing in SIMS Recycling Solutions to collect unwanted electronics from the community.

Collection is limited to Covered/Eligible Electronic Devices (CED/EED’s)  – Only 10 devices per car

CED-computers (PC, laptops), computer monitors, televisions or printers from residents.

EED-mobile telephones, computer cables, mouse, keyboards, fax machines, MP3 players, PDA’s, video game consoles, video cassette recorder/player, DVD/CD players, or similar video device, zip drive or scanners.

No Hazardous Materials Please

Due to the graciousness of the well-known IWU alumni, Dr. Sandra Steingraber, we have a copy of Living Downstream available to the members of Illinois Wesleyan’s campus. If you missed this documentary the first time, now’s your chance to see it. This insightful and eye-opening film traces the environmental causes of diseases, such as cancer, back to the very air and water we are exposed to every day. This DVD will be available on reserve at The Ames Library under Professor Brown’s Environmental Health class. Be sure to check it out if you missed the original showing.

Contact: dkenny@iwu.edu or Professor Brown at lbrown@iwu.edu

Environmental author and activist Sandra Steingraber returned to her alma mater on Monday, Oct. 18 to donate her papers to a new special collection at The Ames Library, and to discuss her writings that bring awareness to the link between cancer and the environment. The struggle is a personal one for Steingraber, who not only is a noted biology researcher, but is also a cancer survivor.

Read more

Come see “Ghost Bird”, a documentary about the extinction, re-discovery and search for the Ivory Billed Woodpecker. Join us at CNS room C101 at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 21. Sponsored by the Environmental Studies Program and the JWP Audobon Society, be sure to join us as we learn about this creature that is simultaneously both bird and ghost.

Sunday, Oct. 10: Campus Clean Up 2-4 p.m. – Meet at the Sheean Steps. Help keep our campus clean!

Monday, Oct. 11: Pop Can Jewelry and Magnets! 4-5:30 p.m. in the DugOut.  Reuse that soda can and turn it into art!

“There is no Planet B” 7 p.m: Climate Presentation by Carolyn Treadway, trained by Al Gore! See her in Beckman!

Tuesday, Oct. 12: King Corn 7 p.m.: Join the adventures of 2 college graduates to find the source of our food! Watch it in Beckman!

Wednesday, Oct. 13: Living Downstream 7 p.m.: Come to Beckman and watch this powerful film based on IWU alumna Sandra Steingraber’s book, Living Downstream!

Environmental author and activist Sandra Steingraber ’81 will return to Bloomington-Normal this month to help promote a new documentary based on her book, Living Downstream. Several events are planned on the IWU campus and around the community:

• Before Steingraber’s visit, Illinois Wesleyan will preview the documentary for students, faculty and staff at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Beckman Auditorium of The Ames Library. The preview is free.

• Steingraber and the film’s director, Chanda Chevannes, will be on hand for a screening of the documentary and a question and answer session at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17 at The Normal Theater. Tickets for the event are $8 and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/126321.

• Local non-profit The Land Connection will co-host a Healthy Harvest Celebration in Uptown Normal, with culinary creations by Epiphany Farms, as a fund-raiser before the public screening. Learn more.

• Steingraber will speak at Hansen Student Center from 12-1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18. The event is free and open to the public.

Here are the final results of a Web Community Poll posted on MyIWU after “No Impact Man” Colin Beavan spoke at the President’s Convocation:

What will you change based on Colin Beavan’s message?

Nothing — 34%

My habits of consumption — 30%

My idea of happiness — 20%

My life’s goals — 9%

My lightbulbs — 8%

Join the co-ed business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi on a tour of Spence Farm, LLC. Learn about sustainable farming and locally grown food. Get all the dirt on the business challenges affecting local farmers. Eat unique food straight from the farm. All are welcome! Meet at the Memorial Center at 9:45 a.m. to carpool on Saturday, Sept. 11. A $5 donation to Spence Farm is requested.

Contact Claire Byrne cbyrne@iwu.edu

If you weren’t able to attend today’s Convocation or if you’d like to share Colin Beavan’s message with others, here’s the recap on the IWU website.