April 22, 2009 - 5:34PM
EDWARDSVILLE - Student Nathalie Woloszyn heads the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus organization that is following the Illinois Environmental Council's lead.
As president of the Student Organization for Sustainability, also known as SOS, Woloszyn informed the public Wednesday, on Earth Day, about how the group is trying to educate SIUE's general student population about climate change and sustainability. She, other students and groups joined the Illinois Environmental Council on campus in educating the public Wednesday night at a town hall meeting about climate change.
"We are trying to create a culture of sustainability through education and involvement," she said.
Woloszyn is a student gardener for the 5-year-old Gardens at SIUE, directed by Doug Conley.
"The most valuable aspect of the Gardens is its direct relationship with the environment," Woloszyn said. "The Number One reason species become extinct is removal of habitat."
Woloszyn described construction that started on Earth Day for a Japanese garden in the Gardens' pines near Turtle Pond. A wooden lantern large enough for people to fit inside will be among the trees and emanating a soft glow over the pond from LED lighting.
"It will be a peaceful, serene place for students to retreat," Woloszyn said. "It's not imposing on nature at all."
Close at hand is a student garden that already has a 15-foot-by-35-foot land allotment that she hopes will be installed this summer, Woloszyn said. Through this project, students could experience gardening and growing their own vegetables and herbs.
SOS is working on other sustainability projects, including a proposal for an on-campus bicycle share that would start in summer, if approved. The group is looking for about 20 bikes to be donated to the campus, where they will be secured for student rental, either for a day, week or weekend.
In the fall, SOS will submit a proposal for "Green Fees," which would be required fees of $10 to $15 to go into a fund to make the campus more sustainable. The fees would be payable upon student registration, similar to parking fees.
Other SIUE students who spoke at Wednesday's town hall meeting were Zak Krug, an intern for the Piasa Pallisades Group of the Sierra Club, and John Hanson of the Political Science Association.
Political science professor Denise DeGarmo of SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences introduced each speaker. DeGarmo also is the coordinator of SIUE's Peace Studies program.
"From an international environmental perspective, we have noticed as the climate has changed, we've seen more conflicts over resources such as water and food," DeGarmo said. "But real efforts start at local levels and the grass-roots for people who are affected most by climate change."
