Our Working Groups
In order to accomplish all that SECS does, we split into a variety of working groups each meeting. We have long-running working groups focused on the big issues of environmentalism, as well as short lived working groups tackling specific goals. Learn about our working groups below!
Action
In our action working group, students promote and develop environmentalism by organizing demonstrations, campaigns, and community events. Some projects include climate marches demanding divestment from fossil fuels by the University, advocating for a sustainability education requirement, and the yearly pumpkin smash!
Education
Environmentalism starts with learning. In education, members create new environmentalists by teaching other students at UIUC and local schools about environmentalism. Education has taught workshops and held events at our local schools, and presented at other student organizations about including sustainability into their missions.
Green Observer
The Green Observer is the only student-run environmental magazine at UIUC. This semesterly magazine features writing of all types, art, photography, and more. In this working group students brainstorm, create, and design this magazine every semester. Read here.
Media
Art of all types can be used to promote environmentalism and explore our connection to nature. In media, students can explore these projects and get creative with sustainable or reclaimed materials. Every semester students work on a variety of art projects, small and large.
Policy
The large scale of environmental issues requires big change, requiring engagement with our government. In policy, students get to advocate for legislation in our state and local government to make that change. This includes partnering with other environmental organizations in Illinois, creating our own bills, and engaging with our local representatives.
Solidarity Gardens
In our garden group, members get hands on. Solidarity gardens maintains two gardens, providing fresh produce for the Red Herring, and other local projects. Additionally, members learn and teach about equitable food access, as well as homemade food projects.
Our Other Efforts
Fossil Fuel Divestment
The University of Illinois has over a fifth of a billion dollars invested in companies that profit from the extraction, transportation, or combustion of coal, petroleum, or natural gas. The possession of these assets demonstrably opposes the University's stated values of “enhanc[ing] the lives of people in Illinois, across the nation, and around the world” [1] and “dedicating its [the University of Illinois’] brightest minds and resources toward prioritizing the environment” [2]. Students have recognized this hypocrisy and, in 2019 and 2025, voted with an overwhelming majority for the University to divest from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels degrade the health of our planet and her peoples. The University of Illinois has stated and acknowledged that “the threats that we are facing due to climate change are immense and connect us all¹”; yet their continued investments in fossil fuels has conveyed the converse: THEY DO NOT CARE. The University of Illinois must reverse the damage investments in fossil fuels have done to our local communities and to the world at large. This begins with the immediate removal of all investments currently held in fossil fuel corporations, and the complete cessation of further investment into these industries.
As students and community members, we must foster an environment built upon unity and compassion. We must protect our communities from environmental harm. We must protect low income communities from climate genocide. We must protect indigenous lands from further violent degradation's by fossil fuel companies. We must save our planet, we must work as one.
You can read the entire SECS 2021 fossil fuel report here: https://secsatuiuc.web.illinois.edu/2021/12/01/uis-investment-data-report-2021/
[1] https://studentengagement.illinois.edu/student-sustainability/
[2] https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gkOkvez20ZWUCFdGhpT1WR_R6JsYNepX/view
iCAP Accountability
The Illinois Climate Action Plan aka the iCAP is an overarching plan for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to reach carbon neutrality and foster a culture of sustainability on campus. The iCAP is written by Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) and Faculty and Services with input from the community and is signed by the chancellor. It gets rewritten every 5 years to update and add new goals. As the oldest and largest environmental organization on campus, we are working on making sure the university goes through with the promises it makes in the iCAP. We are doing this by educating the student body about the iCAP and working on projects that help the campus get closer to the goals set in the iCAP. Examples of projects include expanding recycling in dining halls, implementing composting on campus, adding more native species and green spaces on campus, and many more!