Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series about environmental issues on campus.

As Earth Day was celebrated Saturday, some in the ISU community have celebrated their own environmentally friendly strides.

In December 2005, members of the community created the ISU Council on Sustainability to serve as Iowa State’s voice for the environment.

The council will work with the campus and the community to promote environmentally sound practices and environmental stewardship on campus.

The committee is a diverse body of people that includes members of the faculty, staff and student body.

Janet Krengel, secretary for philosophy and religious studies and council member, said the group was designed to bring people together to work toward a better environment.

“We are the communication hub of a wheel,” she said. “We allow for collaboration, distribution of information and will hopefully engage diverse groups of people.”

The council’s goals are to make environmental concerns a part of university decision making, encourage the use of products and practices that have a minimal impact on the environment and help protect the biodiversity of the region.

It also wants to become a model for other institutions.

The council started in October 2003 as an informal group of faculty, staff and students called “The Greening of ISU,” which sought to make Iowa State aware of the environmental issues affecting the university.

It pushed through, refining rules and bylaws for two years before it was formally recognized by the university.

The group was restructured and renamed the Council on Sustainability and finally became a recognized group last December.

Part of its mission statement was adopted in the ISU Strategic Plan when it was formally recognized.

Whitney Sanford, associate professor of religious studies and council member, said the organization is open to everyone who shares an interest in the environment.

“We are a campuswide organization that includes faculty, students, staff and community members,” she said.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in room 015 of Curtiss Hall to inform people about the council and get them involved.

“The whole point of the meeting is to introduce ourselves to the campus,” Sanford said.

The council is scheduled to meet monthly during the academic year.

Katrina Quint, freshman in preprofessional health programs, said she liked the idea of the council.

“I think the environment is very important and I think the council would help Iowa State benefit the environment,” she said.