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Students for Environmental EquityThe foundation was created to give undergraduate students the opportunity to get involved in public policy discussions that address important environmental health concerns. SEE offers education and provides students with the tools and knowledge to engage in advocacy and lobbying.
The new organization is currently registered with Baylor University as a student interest group. It has more than 50 members and is looking to expand. Anybody who is passionate about global health and environmental health is welcome to join. All backgrounds, perspectives, and areas of study are welcome to join, from law and medicine to environmental science and medicine.
“I founded this organization to give students who are interested in these fields, either through what they’ve seen in class or what they’ve seen in research labs, an opportunity to apply the knowledge they’ve learned,” Houston junior and president of SEE Isha Thapar said.
As outlined in the organization’s constitution, this group seeks to raise awareness about the intersection between health and the environment, as well as to educate members on the impact of environmental issues on underserved populations.
According to an article published by UCLA’s Center for InnovationEnvironmental equity aims to protect individuals from environmental hazards and promote access to environmental benefits regardless of income, race, or socioeconomic status. Environmental health issues that society faces today include air pollution, water pollution and toxic chemical contamination.
“A study just came out a couple of days ago about how redlining from the 1930s has led to higher rates of air quality issues, asthma and respiratory illnesses in those populations,” Littleton, Colo., junior and vice president of legislative affairs of SEE Eliana Stromberg said. “So that’s a great example of environmental equity issues where the disadvantaged members of society are more likely to feel the brunt of environmental issues.”
SEE offers students the opportunity to directly address these issues at both the state and national levels by working to influence policy decisions.
“So far, we’ve done the PFAS Action letter-writing campaign, which is to members of the U.S. Congress and senators, and then we’re going to do, in early April, lobbying appointments with congressmen and women for the UN Shot@Life, so it’s good that we have a broad range of congressmen that are represented by our members,” Thapar said.
SEE has also partnered with Baylor University’s Student Government to address these environmental issues locally. SEE is currently working with Baylor’s Student Senate on a bill to address local climate issues by implementing solar panels across campus, Thapar said. SEE members are also planning to work with the Student Senate to improve Baylor’s recycling programs, thereby increasing environmental sustainability at Baylor.
SEE is a gateway for students to play their own role in fulfilling Baylor’s mission statement and call to worldwide leadership and service.
“No matter who you are, this issue does apply to you because whether we like it or not, we all are citizens of the environment and we all will feel the impacts of water pollution and air pollution at some point in our life,” Stromberg said. “I always like to say that the environment doesn’t care who you are or whether you’re Republican or Democrat; if there is a problem, it’s going to affect everyone.”