News

Earth Week is a time when Southern Illinois University Edwardsville joins communities around the world in helping to make the planet a better, greener, more sustainable place to live. 

The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability (CSS), Student Organization for Sustainability (SOS), the SIUE Newman Catholic Community, and the Sociology Club will sponsor several events during the 2017 Earth Week, which begins today and runs through Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. 

• Wednesday, April 19 – Connie Frey Spurlock will present “Sustainability is a Feminist Issue” at 5 p.m. in Peck Hall, room 0405, in coordination with SIUE Women’s Studies program
• Thursday, April 20 – Standing for the Future: An Earth Day – Vigil and Commitment Ceremony from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at CSS

Saturday, April 22 – Campus Litter Cleanup from 9-11 a.m. and Cougar Kids Saturday from 12-4 p.m. 

“We planned events that were informative, interactive and would also engage our students,” said Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies.  

“Standing for the Future” is the theme of the Earth Day vigil. The event will begin at the Cougar Statue in the Stratton Quadrangle on campus and proceed to the CSS. Along the way, various sustainability features will be noted, such as the green roof on the Student Success Center (SSC), walls out of recycled milk jugs in the SSC, various Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings and more.

The tour will arrive at the Dome, where everyone will be given a candle before the short program that will include student presentations about sustainability, according to Dana Wynn, SOS president.

 “We will get more ‘hands on’ with the campus cleanup,” Wynn said. “People will be able to pick up gloves and bags from 9-11 a.m. outside of Peck Hall and the Morris University Center. We have a beautiful campus, and we want to keep it that way.” 

Later on April 22, the three groups will coordinate with the Campus Activities Board and participate in Cougar Kids Saturday.   

“We plan to set up a gardener’s station and have a scavenger hunt,” Wynn said. 

“Sustainability is an important facet to all of our lives,” she continued. “Helping to make things more sustainable will make you feel better, and it’s not hard to do. Food is the best place to start. We can be more sustainable about how we grow our food, what we choose to eat, how we prepare our food, how we share our food and how we dispose of it.”