SUSTAINABILITY Newsletter
FALL, 2020
Material Management on campus and SOU’s Recycling Center Revamp
Written by: Sarah Ross, Student Zero Waste Coordinator
Have you ever thought about where your trash goes on campus? Did you know that Southern Oregon University has an on-campus recycling center? Sarah Ross, SOU’s Student Zero Waste Coordinator, writes about material management at SOU and the Recycling Center revamp. Read the full article here.
Spotlight
Maya Shoemaker
Maya Shoemaker is in her second year in the Masters of Science in Environmental Education and Masters of Arts in Teaching programs. She is currently working at the SOU farm as the Business Operations Manager where she loves learning about organic farming and operating the business parts of the farm.
When linking her job to sustainability, Maya believes that “Conventional agriculture is one of the primary contributors to climate change, topsoil is being depleted at an alarming rate and food insecurity is of global concern. By learning sustainable agricultural practices, students at the Farm at SOU are taking steps to increase ecological literacy and self-efficacy. Additionally, by providing pesticide-free produce to our campus community we increase local resilience and cut down on carbon emissions.” Maya enjoys working on the farm and getting to know the rhythms of the seasons, the needs of plants, and the interests of the people she works with. She is doing excellent work for SOU!
Events and Opportunities
- Equity Roundtables:
A shift from our original topic, this Equity Roundtable will focus on ways that people of color have developed resilience and practice resistance to forms of racism. We will be hearing from a panel of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students/faculty about their personal experiences on resilience, resistance, and all that encompasses. This Equity Roundtable is in partnership with the SOU Native American Student Union.About the Roundtables: The Equity Roundtables are a place to join in on conversations with the SOU community to explore topics of social equity and the impacts of inclusion and diversity on our university, the region, and beyond. Each quarter the Student Sustainability Resource Center, in collaboration with campus and community partners, will offer two Equity Roundtables Zoom discussions. This series is free and open to the entire community. Registration in advance is helpful but not required at www.tinyurl.com/equityroundtables.
- Student Sustainability Center:
SSC will be hiring interns! Serving as a Student Sustainability Intern is a great way to gain valuable experience that looks great on a resume, contribute to SOU’s award-winning campus sustainability efforts! Follow this link here to apply or email Jill Smedstad. Apply by December 1st, 2020. - Sip N Paint Night!
Friday, November 20th, 4pm
Do you want a FREE painting supply kit with a tutorial on how to make an awesome painting? RSVP on SOU presence to sign up to receive a kit! Supplies are limited to the first 50 students. We will be streaming a painting tutorial on our IGTV @souepic. - Monday Movie Night!
November 30th, 8pm
EP!C is hosting a virtual showing of either La La Land or Rocketman! Tune into our socials the weekend before the event to cast your vote! (Instagram-@souepic).
Follow zoom Link here.
Campus Updates
- SOU Student Food Pantry:
The Student Food Pantry is now open, offering pre-made “Pantry Grab Bags” for pick-up at the Stevenson Union. Current SOU students seeking supplementary food assistance from the SOU Food Pantry can check-in at the SU Welcome Desk during open SU hours and a Welcome Team member will assist the student client. Currently, the SU is open M – F 8am – 7pm, subject to change during holidays and breaks. Students can receive one Grab Bag per week. Each bag includes ten or more non-perishable food items, and students can pick from one of four types of bags: meat/non-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. The variety in each bag is based on inventory and the SFP strives to include a balance of food products that include proteins, grains, fruits, and vegetables in each bag. Questions? Contact foodpantry@sou.edu. - SNAP Benefits:
Did you know that students who attend higher education may be eligible for SNAP, a supplemental nutrition assistance program?? This will provide nutritional assistance benefits to children and families, the elderly, the disabled, unemployed, and working families. SNAP helps supplement the monthly food budgets of families with low-income to buy the food they need to maintain good health and allow them to direct more of their available income toward essential living expenses. Visit oregonhunger.org to get more information as well as how to qualify. If you have any questions, please contact Kadyn Jones from the Student Sustainability Resource Center at jonesk10@sou.edu
“To use the world well, to be able to stop wasting it and our time in it, we need to relearn our being in it”
– Le Guin
Global Buzz
MOSAiC Expedition
The largest expedition to the arctic ocean has finally come to an end in September. The German research vessel Polarstern drifted into the Arctic ocean with 300 scientists from 20 countries to monitor important measurement data throughout the whole year. This mission will help scientists collect data to better understand the climate and climate change. “Only by truly understanding what is happening in the Arctic will one be able to gauge how the climate will evolve in the future.” See the photo below for insight on how the expedition looked, and for more information about the expedition, follow this link here.
