Did you know Environs got KU to ban the use of styrofoam in the Union? Did you know that Environs has published multiple newsletters over the years? Or that we are the coordinators for Earth Day events? Or that we started a aluminum recycling pilot project in 1989? It's true, we did, and we're writing it in stone (on the internet) to prove it.
A note: We did stuff even when the archive says we didn't, we promise, we're just in the process of digging it all up. We've been a group for over two decades, did a lot of stuff, recorded a lot of minutes from meetings, and it's been piling up. We'll have more as it's transcribed.
You're an alum who sees something missing? Let us know - environs@ku.edu
You might find it easier to browse by year, the links are over there. -->
Volunteered for Wednesdays at Liberty Hall
This is an after school program that happens every Wednesday. During the week leading up to Earth Day, they have environmental groups put on the activities for elementary and middle school kids. In the past, we have produced cards out of recycled paper and flowers, given them to students (it’s also around Mother’s Day), and had a demonstration on how to make them.Campus Earth Day Activites
Organized Earth Day activities on campus including a lecture and round table discussion with ethnobotanist Gary Nabahn. Having some kind of activity around Earth Day besides the parade is an every-year activity for Environs. The Nabahn activities were very successful because there were multiple events including a local food dinner which played to the strength of his research and writing. In 2008, SUA sponsored an Earth Day carnival with games, free give-aways, and booths for the “green groups”Wakarusa Wetland Preservation Funding
Raised hundreds of dollars for the legal defense of the Wakarusa Wetlands. This is a cause that Environs has worked on for over 20 years—we were one of the original defendants in the original lawsuit. We had three benefit concerts…one at the Jackpot Saloon, one at the Bottleneck, and one at the Replay Lounge.Film Festival
In conjunction with CCO E.A.R.T.H., we hosted a four-night movie festival that attracted over five hundred viewers. Pairing up with Films for Action, we showed two movies that had been previously screened at Liberty Hall; we had a professor from Pitt State University present the “Inconvenient Truth” slideshow and lead a question and answer session; and we had producers from “The 11th Hour” do a screening and organize a panel discussion with faculty. Three nights were at the ECM and “The 11th Hour” showing was in the Union.Clean Up Projects
Had a campout and picked up litter at Clinton Lake.Coal Plant Protesting
Participated in numerous public comment periods and events in Topeka, successfully advocating against the expansion of highly polluting coal-fired power plants in the state of Kansas.Electronic Recycling Event
Lawrence held an E-cycling event with Environs members as volunteers. The turnout was incredible…over 900 vehicles brought E-waste to be disposed of in an environmentally-sound manner. The city is already thinking a bi-annual collection might be feasible.Recycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program
Recycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program. This is one of the largest recycling efforts at summer festivals in the country. It is spearheaded by Students for Environmental Action at K-State, and Environs helps out with volunteering every year.
Lawrence Earth Day Parade
The largest Lawrence Earth Day Parade in history. Environs originally organized the parade when it began in 1992 and took back responsibility from the city in 2007.Energy Awareness Week
In conjunction with the Center for Sustainability, Net Impact, Engineers Without Borders, Emerging Green Builders, Alternative Energy Society, and the Fair Trade/ECM group, hosted a week-long "Energy Awareness Week" with different activities each day and night. For five days, there was an event on Wescoe during the day and an evening event, each day with a different theme. Monday, the Alternative Energy Society gave out there 1BagAtATime bags with local shopping incentives printed on the bags during the day and hosted a volunteer training session with the bio-diesel project in the evening. Tuesday, we “bowled for smokestacks” and distributed information on the importance of reducing the demand for energy and in the evening showed “Kilowatt Hours”. Wednesday was “Ride a Bike to School Day” where Critical Mass was riding along Jayhawk Blvd. Local bike artwork was displayed on Wescoe and bicycle advocacy brochures were handed out all day. In the evening, a local roundtable discussing the question “what does it mean to be green in 2007” was held with a turnout of 50 or so. Thursday, KU Recycling was on campus handing out Nalgenes and passing out information on their efforts to reduce waste on campus. Friday the Bio-diesel project hosted a chicken fry using fryer oil that they later turned in to experimental bio-diesel.Coal Plant Protesting
Participated in numerous public comment periods and events in Topeka, successfully advocating against the expansion of highly polluting coal-fired power plants in the state of Kansas.Recycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program
Recycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program. This is one of the largest recycling efforts at summer festivals in the country. It is spearheaded by Students for Environmental Action at K-State, and Environs helps out with volunteering every year.LEED Advocation
Successfully advocated for a Student Senate bill (written by Studie Red Corn) that would require all Senate-funded buildings to be built to LEED Platinum standards. But keep an eye on them to make sure they follow through with it.Alternative Energy Funding Advocation
Successfully advocated for a Student Senate referendum (written by Studie Red Corn) that would create a renewable energy fund so that the University could reduce it's reliance on polluting, conventional energy. But keep an eye on them to make sure they follow through with it.Volunteered for the Douglas County Farm Tour
We volunteered out at the Lone Star Lake Bison Ranch for Terri Gibbs and her family.Volunteered for Wednesdays at Liberty Hall
This is an after school program that happens every Wednesday. During the week leading up to Earth Day, they have environmental groups put on the activities for elementary and middle school kids. We produced cards out of recycled paper and flowers, gave them to students (it’s also around Mother’s Day), and had a demonstration on how to make them.Letter Writing Campaign
Wrote letters for the public comment periods of local and state issues…SLT/Wakarusa Wetlands, KS energy conservation legislation, Holcomb coal-fired power plant, etc.Step It Up
Organized the April, 2007 “Step It Up” event in Lawrence, one of 1,400 locations worldwide that brought attention to the lack of federal action on climate change policy. We had a speaker’s panel in the morning with local, state, and federal government represented along with Dr. Donald Worster. There was a rally at South Park and a parade down Massachusetts St. which ended at City Hall. A tour of the Bowersock Hydro-electric dam followed. We reported on the events and added pictures to the national website.Prairie Fest at the Land Institute
Held in September of each year, this agricultural research outfit invites folks out for some fantastic speakers, food, and community. Past speakers have included David Orr, James Howard Kunstler, Terri Gibbs, and Wendell Berry.Co-hosted a David Orr lecture
David Orr, Environmental Studies director at Oberlin College and author visited KU for a lecture at the invitation of Environs, and the Environmental Studies and Urban Planning Departments. The auditorium was packed and his honorarium was not that expensive. Focusing on well-known, but not expensive, speakers can really pay off.
Center for Sustainability Support
Environs collected signatures in support of funding for the Center for Sustainability at KUCoal Plant Protesting
Participated in numerous public comment periods and events in Topeka, successfully advocating against the expansion of highly polluting coal-fired power plants in the state of KansasRecycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program
Recycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program. This is one of the largest recycling efforts at summer festivals in the country. It is spearheaded by Students for Environmental Action at K-State, and Environs helps out with volunteering every year.Prairie Fest at the Land Institute
Held in September of each year, this agricultural research outfit invites folks out for some fantastic speakers, food, and community. Pack a car and a Frisbee and head out to Salina, KS. Past speakers have included David Orr, James Howard Kunstler, Terri Gibbs, and Wendell Berry.
Recycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program
Recycalusa—Wakarusa Music Festival recycling program. This is one of the largest recycling efforts at summer festivals in the country. It is spearheaded by Students for Environmental Action at K-State, and Environs helps out with volunteering every year.
Wilderness Expeditions
ESSA Fest - Benefit Concert
Local Elementary Environmental Education
Earth Day
Earth Day Bike Ride
Peer Advising
New Student Environmental Information Packet
Refillable Mug Fundraising Project
SEAC Conference
Environs coordinated a regional SEAC conference at K-State.Recycling Efforts
Collected donations to buy aluminum recycling boxes.Holiday Waste Info Sheet
Environs wrote an info sheet concerning waste associated with Christmas and other holidays.Earth Day
Environs coordinated the annual Earth Day festival.
Recycling Awareness Week
Held recycling awareness week on campus.SEAC Conference
Some students attended the Student Environmental Action Coalition conference in Illinois.Earth Day
Coordinated Earth Day activities on campus for local school kds. Started educational talk / slide show / game for local fifth grade school kids and took the act on the road.The Geometer Newsletter
Environs wrote, edited, and published a newsletter concerning local, national, and international environmental issues.
Styrofoam Ban
Environs campaigned to end the use of styrofoam at the Kansas Memorial Union. After doing a styrofoam usage audit of the Union through the use of the Kansas Open Records law and figuring out that the Union could save money by using reusable dishware, students proposed a bill to the Kansas Memorial Corporation Board banning the use of styrofoam. Environmental Studies professor Linda Johnston prepared a 25-page document on the environmental effects of styrofoam and a student Devin Scherubel, a chemistry student at the time, helped Environs interpret the toxicology of the substance. Student actions culminated with he Kansas Memorial Corporation Board passing policy memorandum 10, which banned styrofoam for one year in order to evaulate the impact of the policy change.Aluminum Recycling
Environs hired contrators to collect aluminum cans on campus. Yellow barrels for the cans appeared throughout campus.Sustainability newsletter
Environs published multiple issues of the newsletter Sustainability. The newsletter included reports from the various Environs committees as well as articles on recent environmental topics such as the South Lawrence Trafficway. It also included an environmental group directory, poems, cartoons, and more.Earth Day
Environs organized the Earth Day parade and celebration. The event was held in South Park and included local environmental organizations and businessesShuttle Launch Protest
Environs protested against the shuttle launch of nuclear materials.
Styrofoam Ban
Environs campaigned to end the use of styrofoam at the Kansas Memorial Union. After doing a styrofoam usage audit of the Union through the use of the Kansas Open Records law and figuring out that the Union could save money by using reusable dishware, students proposed a bill to the Kansas Memorial Corporation Board banning the use of styrofoam. Environmental Studies professor Linda Johnston prepared a 25-page document on the environmental effects of styrofoam and a student Devin Scherubel, a chemistry student at the time, helped Environs interpret the toxicology of the substance. Student actions culminated with he Kansas Memorial Corporation Board passing policy memorandum 10, which banned styrofoam for one year in order to evaulate the impact of the policy change.Recycling Pilot Program
Students gained approval from many administrative departments (Facilities Operations, Organizations and Activies Center, the Unions, etc.) to organize a pilot recycling program. Bins were placed around campus for various recylcable materials: office paper, aluminum, newsprint, food conainers, and glass. The materials were collected and then recycled by Til-Star Recycling of Topeka. The project ran the entirety of the Fall 1988 semester.The Environment and YOU! newsletter
This Environs newsletter was printed monthly on unbleached, recycled paper. The newsletter covered local and global environmental issues and included a calendar of regional environmental events and plant identifications.Protesting Habitat Loss
Several Environs members protested habitat loss resulting from development of the Riverfront Mall in Lawrence. Developers were ignoring concerns hat their mall would destroy the habitat for bald eagles by the river. Bald eagles were known to spend winters in the cottonwood trees by the riverfront. Development involved cutting down this important habitat. In an early morning protest, one Environs member and three others were arrested for trespassing. The issue was fought in the courts for months before the mall was allowed to be built.Environmental Education
Weekly information tables were set up and staffed by Environs. Information about a wide range of environmental issues was available from protest at Vulcan Chemical Corp. to whaling, along with petitions from national organizations. The current issue of the newsletter was handed out. Information regaring current Environs efforts such as recycling efforts and the styrofoam ban was also distributed.Environmental Awareness Fair
Environs sposored and coordinated a three day environmental awareness fair on campus in front of Stauffer-Flint. Features included a styrofoam monster and exhibits from local environmental groups and musuems.Earth Day
An Earth Day protest was held at Vulcan Chemical Corp. near Witchita. Vulcan produces pentachlorophenol, a toxic wood preservation, and chlofluorocarbons, a jack-of-all trades ozone depleter. Environs publicized the protest in Lawrence and arranged carpools.Benefit Concert
Environs held a benefit concert to raise money for the recycling pilot project in Wescoe. It was held at the Bottleneck and Lonesome Houndogs, Parlour Frogs and Baghdad Jones played. A big, big show. Lonesome Houndogs and Parlour Frogs were very popular, while Baghdad Jones was just starting out. The cover charge was $4 and the event draw about $1000. The Bottleneck and the bands offered their services for free.Other Recycling Efforts
Environs helped coordinate a reylcing fair, SORT Saturday, which combined information and recycling. The event was held at the county fairgrounds. SORT was a community group encouraging recylcing in Lawrence. The event was a large success.
Praire Acre Action
Saving the Prairie Acre from gross mismanagement by KU Facilities Operations.Environmental Speakers Series
The Environmental Speakers Series included a wide range of interests, including members of KU Facility, KDHE, Kansas Natural Resource Council, environmental consultants (Hall-Kimbrell), Douglas County Soil Conservation Service, as well as graduate and undergraduate students.Prairie Festival
Attended the Prairie Festival at the Land Institute (Salina, KS).Kansas Natural Resource Council Fall Retreat
Participated in the Kansas Natural REsource Council Fall Retreat which featured Amory Lovins, and Wes Jackson.Clinton Lake Campout
Hosted an annual campout at Clinton Lake.