April 14 - Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
Location: McCormick Auditorium
Time: 7-9
Speaking: Joseph Tainter, expert from The 11th Hour; Stephan McGuire, co-producer of The 11th Hour

The Northwestern screening was attended by approximately 100 people and was well received by the Northwestern campus and students. The event was hosted by Students for Ecological and Environmental Development (SEED) and took place in the student center, McCormick Hall, where many students congregate and hang out. We were very excited to see a number of Evanston community members attend the event as well.

Before the screening, SEED Co-Chair Jesse Sleamaker introduced Stephan McGuire, co-Producer of The 11th Hour.  Stephan described his involvement with the 11th Hour, the ideas behind the 11th Hour Action campaign and www.11thhouraction.com, as well as Hewlett Packard’s sponsorship of the 11th Hour Campus Tour.

Joseph Tainter, 11th Hour expert and author of The Collapse of Complex Societies, spoke on the Q&A panel following the screening. He is currently Professor and Head of the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University, Logan. Joining Joseph Tainter were Donna Jurdy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences at Northwestern University, Dr. Brad Sageman, Chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University, and Stephan McGuire. Most of the questions were asked by members of the Evanston community and related to ways in which the Evanston community could become more sustainable, particularly because Chicago as a whole does not appear to be taking major steps in this direction. The panel suggested a community-wide ban on plastic bags as one of many effective measures that could be taken on a local level.

Various students signed up to www.11thhouraction.com using the Hewlett Packard laptops after the event.

Two major environmental actions are currently happening at Northwestern. SEED is advocating to have four new faculty members hired to teach courses affiliated with the field of environmental studies. Northwestern University is also in the process of establishing a sustainable student dorm. SEED has been working on this project for approximately four months, and the new dorm represents the largest step in sustainability that Northwestern has taken since the development of the environmental science and environmental policy and culture programs about four years ago. [Confirm with Jesse Sleamaker that ok to release this information.]

The event was announced by the student-run Northwestern News Network, as well as by the Evanston Review, a local newspaper.
 

Norris Hall - McCormick Auditorium at Northwestern University

Evanston community signing up for 11th Hour Action

Stephan McGuire introducing The 11th Hour

Panelists at Northwestern including 11th Hour expert, Joseph Tainter (far right).