Students and Alumni Take the Lead on Stan State’s Sustainability Efforts

by Christopher Correa

Stanislaus State students are continuing to lead the way when it comes to environmental sustainability on campus and in the surrounding communities.

Since the creation of the student organizations Climate Action Now! and the Eco Warriors, members have been hard at work brainstorming new ideas to use cleaner energy, minimize waste and spread awareness of some of the challenges that the planet is currently facing.

The idea of Climate Action Now!, also known as CAN!, began in 2018 by alumnus Kenneth Boettcher while he was pursuing his master’s in history. After the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced a climate crisis in October of that year, Boettcher helped organize the Climate Crisis Symposium at Stan State. The event featured presentations from 10 different Stan State professors and more than 300 campus community members attended the event. Boettcher created Climate Action Now! based on the high level of interest generated at the event. Though he graduated in May 2021, Boettcher remains heavily involved.

“Student organizations within the California State University can have both student and non-student members, per our CSU-approved constitutions,” Boettcher explained. “I’m still a member with a voice.”

CAN! is now being led by President Vivian Aguilar, who is a senior doublemajoring in psychology and English.

“We want to help build a movement to push for the vast changes in society needed to begin rebuilding human society and the Earth’s plant and animal life that our commodity-based society has poisoned or destroyed,” Aguilar said. “We advocate for the IPCC’s recommendations on the crisis: 45 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and 100 percent reduction by 2050.”

Aguliar believes that “commodity culture” has produced a poisonous world and that those responsible are not being held accountable.

“The scientific consensus today shows we are still barreling toward the brink of planetary-wide extinction for most species on Earth, including ourselves,” Aguilar continued. “CAN! tries to stimulate long-term thinking about how to build a society that brings us into harmony with the rest of nature and makes real sustainability possible for generations ahead.”

Future plans for CAN! include hosting discussion groups, film screenings, speaker events and book groups at Stan State. The organization hopes to increase membership and further connect with the community through their Facebook account (@climateactionnowstanstate) and new Instagram and Twitter accounts (@stanstatecan). Climate Action Now! also hopes to make the biggest impact possible through working together. Such change takes time and cooperation, Aguilar said.

Cooperation can come in many forms. Destiny Suarez, vice president and student event coordinator for CAN!, also serves as president of another student organization that looks to promote sustainability: the Eco Warriors.

The Eco Warriors organization was founded by current Associated Students, Inc. President Cynella Aghasi and alumna Diana Avalos in 2019. Similar to Boettcher and CAN!, Avalos acknowledged that there were not many discussions or actions on campus to address climate change and promote sustainability.

Now being led by Suarez and Aghasi, who are both political science majors, the organization advocates for much more than just a sustainable future.

“We advocate for social justice, environmental justice, economic issues, inclusivity and diversity. We really surround ourselves with the advocacy for a person’s basic needs,” Suarez explained. Through their efforts, the Eco Warriors have collaborated with several on-campus organizations including ASI, Stan State’s Council for Sustainable Futures, and local nonprofits Turlock Community Gardens, Environmental Justice and the Peace Fridge. They have also worked closely with Stan State leadership to help promote eco-friendly projects on campus. These projects include the construction of solar panels across campus and the addition of recycling and compost bins throughout buildings.

The organization has also held several successful events, such as clothing swaps, and campaigns addressing environmental justice. They have much more planned in the near future.

Every year, the group plans campus activities to celebrate Earth Month. They also host clothing swaps where all proceeds are donated to The Peace Fridge, a mutual aid collective from Modesto.

The group is also actively seeking opportunities for collaboration to amplify their impact. “The Eco Warriors pride ourselves on education. We appreciate any opportunity that may come our way and are open to future collaborations,” Suarez said. “Anyone at Stanislaus State can join. We have no prerequisites for membership, only a welcoming and safe space for students.”

Both the Eco Warriors and Climate Action Now! actively recruit campus community members to get involved. The Climate Action Now! booth can be spotted on the Quad at the Turlock campus and the Eco Warriors have recently created their own bench.

Read more about these student organizations and learn about how to get involved at www.csustan.edu/sustainability/student-organizations.