Image text: Pollinator Habitat, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Planted for pollinators and protected from pesticides.
Join in at xerces.org
Campus Updates
Bring on the Bees and Take Time for Trees
Southern Oregon University continues to be certified as a Bee Campus and a Tree Campus in recognition of the importance that SOU places on both bees and trees. Elizabeth Adkisson, SOU’s PEAK Student Sustainability Coordinator writes about Bees and Trees at SOU.
SOU’s Strategic Plan Sustainability Update
Sustainability is a core value and a Strategic Direction at SOU. In January 2022, we updated SOU’s Board of Trustees on progress towards our Sustainability Goals set out under Strategic Direction 3 in the Strategic Plan. The update can be found here.
More information on the Strategic Plan and all the Strategic Directions can be found here.
Join the Student Sustainability Team!
The Social Justice and Equity Center’s Student Sustainability Team is now hiring for spring term Student Sustainability Coordinators and paid Interns! A range of positions are available, including Community Garden Co-Coordinator, Food Pantry Intern, Transportation Options and Bicycle Advocacy Intern, Climate Justice Conference Coordinator, and more! Positions can often be used to satisfy academic internship requirements for a range of degree programs. Work study and non-work study positions available- starting wages are at $14.25/hr for interns and $15/hr for Coordinator positions. Check SOU’s Handshake page for the position postings “Sustainability Interns” and “Sustainability Coordinator.”
Ride the Bus and Earn Prizes!
Take part in the Get-On-The-Bus Scavenger Hunt during weeks 8-10 (February 21 – March 11) of Winter Term! Ride the bus and take a picture of yourself at each of eight different stops between Ashland and Talent. Submit by March 11 for a chance to win amazing prizes including up to $50 gift cards to The Breadboard, Shop’n Kart, Northwest Nature Shop, and The Handlebar Bike Shop and Cafe! For more details and to submit your photos visit: tinyurl.com/SOUbus-hunt The first 20 students to complete the scavenger hunt will also receive a free Spring Term Bus Pass!
Pictured: SOU Student, Ramona Jimenez
Image text: Sustainability at Southern Oregon University
Sustainability Spotlight
Ramona Jimenez, Student and Recycling Specialist
Ramona Jimenez has worked at SOU’s Recycling Center as a Recycling and Material Specialist for the past year. She is majoring in Health and Physical Education and double minoring in Business Administration and Health Promotion. Ramona is also a part of the SOU women’s wrestling team.
The Recycling Center is located on campus on Wightman Street behind the public safety building and in the past year it has been refurbished and expanded. Many people may not notice the little blue building that results in a big impact for the whole of SOU campus.
Everyone is a part of what happens at the Recycling Center process from student, staff and faculty to Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative and our local waste hauler, Recology. As a Recycling and Material Specialist, Ramona helps to sort all the recycling bags that are collected across campus and dropped off in front of the building. These bags come from all over campus including the residential halls and department buildings. These bags contain many things such as paper, drinks, books, shoes, bottles, etc. These bags need to be sorted the correct way with the redeemable bottles going in one area, recyclable items in another separate area and any trash that should not be in the recycling to landfill.=
There are times when the majority of a bag needs to go in the trash since it is contaminated with foods or other non recyclable items. One cup with liquid can contaminate a whole bag. Separating trash is just one part of the center. The center is starting to organize an area to recycle books, metals and other materials. The best thing we can do is not produce trash or recycling in the first place through reduce and reuse. And then recycle where we can. This all helps to reduce SOU’s greenhouse gas emissions by diverting trash away from landfill.
To find out what can be recycled at SOU, please visit our recycling page:
Sustainability Quote
Global Buzz
The past seven years have been the hottest in recorded history, new data shows. Global temperatures in 2021 were among the highest ever observed, with 25 countries setting new annual records, according to scientists from NASA, NOAA and Berkeley Earth. Check out City of Ashland’s Climate Energy Action Plan highlighting how Ashland plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the changing climate.
Events & Opportunities
- Free Registrations Available for NW Sustainability Conference!
Washington Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC) is taking place virtually March 2 – 4, 2022. WOHESC is a platform for inspiring change, facilitating action, and promoting collaboration around sustainability within the Cascadia region’s higher education institutions. SOU is sponsoring the conference and has a number of available places for students and employees. If you are interested in attending, please contact Becs Walker walkerr6@sou.edu - Save the Dates for Earth Day and Arbor Day Events
Mark your calendars to visit The Farm at SOU on Earth Day, Friday April 22 in the afternoon and early evening for the new and improved “Earth Day Extravaganza” event featuring entertainment, education, and activities. And in the afternoon of the following Friday, April 29 SOU will once again renew the tradition of engaging in the annual Arbor Day of Service, with volunteer projects across campus. - Call for Events – Beyond Earth Day 2022
The Student Sustainability Team invites SOU clubs, organizations, and individuals to host events and activities April 19 – 29, 2022 that inspire action and educate for change. Please email ecos@sou.edu by March 11 to have your event included in the official “Beyond Earth Day” calendar of events, or to set up a time to discuss your idea! - Community Garden Plots Available
The SOU Community Garden is now accepting new gardeners to “rent” a plot for the year. Gardeners pay an annual fee based on the size of the plot, ranging from $7 to $30/year. There is an additional $40/year membership fee for community members, and membership is free for enrolled SOU students. Visit the SOU Community Garden page for more information and to sign up for a plot today! - 2022 Garden Plant Start Sale
The Student Farmers have been planting seeds for weeks now, just for you! Available for purchase are starts available of strawberries, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, lettuces, melons, cucumbers, zucchini and herbs. Visit the the Farm website to order. - CSA Shares Available from The Farm at SOU
Each year, the Farm at SOU makes available a small number of Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA) shares to the SOU Faculty and Staff and the surrounding community for purchase. CSA pick up will begin on Thursday, May 19 and end on Thursday, September 29. Learn more at the Farm at SOU’s website.
