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Michael Cox, a fourth-year political science student, believes the environment and humanity are o

The organization has grown from 12 members to over 500 in less than one year, and has played a leading role in drafting a policy calling for “green” buildings and a reduction in energy consumption on all UC campuses.

The California Student Sustainability Coalition, a student-run organization aimed at implementing environmentally sound practices in the UC system, has grown to include a chapter at UCLA this year.

The coalition aims to empower students throughout the state to focus on creating a more sustainable UC system, while recognizing the needs of each university as well as the needs of humanity.

The coalition, along with other campus groups, works on behalf of the environment and recognize the importance of Earth Day today.

“Some environmentalists think they can save the environment without thinking of humanity’s place in the big picture. The California Student Sustainability Coalition sees humanity as part of the big picture, and we recognize that everything is interconnected and interdependent. Doing harm to the planet also does harm to the people,” said Michael Cox, chairman of UCLA’s coalition branch.

Last July, the coalition helped pass a multi-million-dollar green building and renewable energy initiative that focuses on making the UC campuses sustainable, instead of continuing to deplete resources.

Wednesday, students from the group and Julian Keniry, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program met with UC Vice-President Joe Mullinix to discuss the implementation of the initiative.

To bring the idea of sustainability into the classroom, UCLA’s coalition members designed a lecture series, currently being offered at five UC campuses, called the Education for Sustainable Living Program. The lecture series brings in different guest lecturers each week, who discuss sustainability from their different perspectives, including ecology, politics and economy.

The lecture series was initiated by Cox, who also started the UCLA chapter of the sustainability coalition. The course, Environment 185, is a public lecture series in which students can enroll and receive two units, or just attend.

The lectures are offered at UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis and UC Berkeley. The series at UCLA and Berkeley are identical, with the same speakers, and the other campuses have similar lecture topics from different speakers.

Hillary Lehr, a second-year conservation and resource studies student at Berkeley, as well as a member of the sustainability coalition, believes the lectures bring new ideas about activism into the classroom.

“We’re trying to not only bring academics into activism through this course, but also bringing activism into academics,” Lehr said.

In addition to the lecture program, UC Berkeley’s branch of the coalition created a course centered on student-initiated projects related to sustainability.

“Students learn about sustainability, and then they try to create a project that brings their ideas into action. They feel very connected to the issues surrounding sustainability, and it’s very rewarding for them to see their ideas enacted,” Lehr added.

Students involved in UCLA’s coalition believe the program is off to a good start, but has much room to grow.

“It’s a great program because it looks toward the future. The lecture series is a great part of the program because people need to be more educated on sustainability. I’m excited to see the program develop,” said Matthew Wood, a first-year undeclared student.

The California Student Sustainability Coalition @ UCLA meets on the Kerckhoff Patio at 6 p.m. on Mondays, and the Education for Sustainable Living Program is from 9-11 a.m. on Thursdays in Kerckhoff Grand Salon.