In support of the University’s commitment to sustainability, Tate Archives & Special Collections in The Ames Library is the home of four collections related to Environmental Studies. These materials are available for researchers from any part of IWU’s community, both on and off campus, and serve as a resource for the IWU Environmental Studies Program.
Eco Week 2010!
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!
New Washing Machines Conserve 224,000 Gallons of Water Each Semester
This past summer, the Office of Residential Life replaced 65 pairs of laundry machines — which after 14 years had completed their usable life — with the same number of new Energy Star machines.
The new, front-loading washing machines use 20 less gallons of water per load of laundry than the machines they replace. Considering our students do nearly 100 loads of laundry a day, that’s 14,000 gallons a week or 224,000 gallons of water saved in a semester, according to Assistant Dean of Students Matt Damschroder. Also, each new machine draws 61 percent less energy compared to the old machines.
Alumna Sandra Steingraber to Speak on Campus, New Documentary to Be Shown
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.
Update on No Impact Experiment Week
Following the President’s Convocation address by “No Impact Man” Colin Beavan,144 students, faculty and staff participated in the No Impact Experiment Week on campus, gaining a new mindfulness about their behaviors.
Students participating as a class requirement included those in Visiting Associate Professor Laurine Brown’s ENST 270: Health and the Environment class, who submitted journal responses. Among them, Carlee Nestelberger ’12 said she appreciated the opportunity for involvement beyond the classroom. She attended the documentary “FLOW” and wrote, “This movie really inspired me and I would love to get involved or start some kind of club to … spread awareness of water shortage in our world.”
Campus Prairie Plot
A prairie plot was planted in the spring of 2009 on the southwest side of the Center for Natural Science. A student initiative and maintained by students, the plot features native Illinois prairie plants, which are resistant to drought and provide important wildlife habitat. All of the seeds were collected, bought, or donated by Illinois Wesleyan students and members of the community.
Results of Campus Poll on No Impact Message
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%
Watch FOOD INC film, 7 p.m. Wednesday!
How much do we really know about the food we eat and where it comes from? Grab a friend and come watch the documentary, Food Inc., sponsored by the “No Impact Experiment” Committee.
www.iwu.edu/news/NoImpact.shtml
Film: FOOD INC
Wednesday, September 15 at 7:00 pm
Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium
All are welcome!
The film lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, examining costs of putting value and convenience over nutrition and environmental impact. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that will not go bad — BUT we also have new strains of E. coli, widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic of diabetes among adults. Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto), along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food Inc. reveals surprising and often shocking truths about what we eat, how it is produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here. For more information please visit www.foodincmovie.com/
Bird Watching with Professor Given Harper
Join us Saturday, September 25th at 8:00 a.m. as Professor Given Harper leads us on a bird watching walk in Bloomington’s Ewing Park. We will meet in the parking lot of Ewing Park (off of Towanda Ave.). The walk will last approximately 2 hours. Bring your field glasses and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving town!!)
(If you would like to attend, please, RSVP the Wellness office, via phone (309) 556-3334, or email jspence2@iwu.edu. If you leave a message, be sure to include your phone number and/or email address. Please call if you need directions)
Mixing Business with Pleasure and Farm Animals
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