SEC's continuous mission is to engage in grassroots activism for global change. We are an organization consisting primarily of college students, dedicated to preserving the Shawnee bioregion of southern Illinois.

Here are a sample of some of our current endeavors:

Tree Free Campus Campaign:

SEC is working with Southern Sustainability and others, in an attempt to implement full-scale, campus-wide use of recycled paper. SIUC's current contract with Boise-Cascade prohibits such a program from currently being implemented. It is the hope of SEC that SIUC will look beyond the cost margin and the corporate interests of Boise-Cascade (a corporation notorious for its old growth logging), and towards a responsible approach to the caretaking of the Shawnee ecosystem by purchasing recycled paper. Boise-Cascade's presence on campus has been and remains silent yet steadfast, as such many other such attempts towards these ends have failed; ours, however, will not.

Clean Ups

SEC is active in monthly cleanups around Campus Lake and other local aspects of our ecosystem. SEC also participates in cleaning up portions of Wall Street, and particpates in various other clean ups throughout the year.

Garlic Mustard--An Invasive Species

Garlic Mustard's emergence poses an enormous threat to our local ecosystem. This foriegn invasive species has the potential to devestate the dynamics and delicate static equilibrium of the Shawnee ecosystem, characteristics that must be maintained to continue our sustainable coexistence within it. The Sierra Club locals have come to the conclusion that Round-Up pesticides--a monocot attacking pesticide that contains inert materials--are a necessity to put an end to our Garlic Mustard problem. SEC offers a different conclusion that does not require the use of environmentally unfriendly pesticides next to OUR (the student's lake); moreover a pesticide that has inert materials and that does not biodegrade and that has the potential to harm our water supply and lake ecology.

SEC's initiatives regarding this matter, require organizing a task force to pull Garlic Mustard before it flowers and seeds every year for five years. After such an attack on the Garlic Mustard population is completed, small routine pullings will be necessary to preserve our ecosystem. Say "NO!" to pesticides by helping SEC pull Garlic Mustard around Campus Lake.

Earth Day Initiative

SEC is working to organize an Earth Day celebration and event for SIUC and Carbondale. Every year is something new and exciting, join us in our celebration annual celebration every April 22nd!

Sugar Creek Debate

There will be a debate over Sugar Creek, and the proposed damming there, on March 12th, 2001 at the highschool in Marion. Come and voice your opinions over this crucial piece of our ecosystem!