Be Involved!

The purpose of the Ecology Heads (“Eco-Heads”), as stated in the campus constitution, is to “coordinate and facilitate the ecological efforts of the campus. This includes working with the Facilities Department to promote and maintain the campus recycling program, ...". Eco-Heads are elected members of their House Board and take the lead in promoting sustainable practices within student housing and throughout student life. Weekly Eco-Head meetings offer a forum to exchange ideas, and the Chair meets regularly with the Center for Sustainability. This is a great way to practice your changemaker skill set!

Chartered to “Promote and facilitate—in practical, tangible, and inspiring ways—the participation of Principia community members in sustainability activities on campus", the Sustainability Club is an incubator for new ideas, an engine for campus outreach, and a gathering place for students passionate about more resilient food systems, more sustainable fashion and industry, and a deeper conversation about humanity's relationship with the planet. The Club hosts weekly meetings and DIY workshops, as well as Sustainability Weekend (fall) and Earth Day (spring). You can even enjoy a day at the beach, cleaning up the mighty Mississippi River!

The “Senate Sustainability Rep" is a designated member of the Student Senate who advocates within student government for the needs and interests of the Eco-Heads elected to serve in their residential Houses, as well as broader student-led sustainability priorities and programs. The Senate Rep typically convenes the first Eco-Head meeting of the year (ensuring the election of a Chair), champions sustainability at New Student Orientation, and helps to maintain an awareness of and concern for environmental issues on campus.

The Sustainability program has benefited immeasurably from the enthusiasm and talent of our Post-Graduate Interns: Leah Pyne (Spring 2016), Anna-Zoë Herr (Spring 2018), and Jolee Keplinger (Spring 2020). Among the many contributions of these gifted young professionals are the 5,500 ft2 three-season native garden at the Science Center (shown here), a detailed renovation strategy for the West Quad Orchard, a College-wide sustainability audit, a new Sustainable Food Systems course, an institutional Green Dining Standard, and a cost:benefit analysis for a campus container farm.

In St. Louis, Gateway Greening (shown here) "educates and empowers people to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture." In Alton, our students serve a hot meal to food insecure families at the First Presbyterian Church's Saturday Cafe; volunteer at the Earthtones Festival, Farmer's Market, and Oasis Women's Shelter; sandbag vulnerable communities during flood stages; and care for injured animals at Treehouse Wildlife Center. "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." ~ Mahatma Gandhi