Clubs and Organizations
CCC is working to bring awareness to environmental justice, sustainability and climate change and further efforts to make Whitman a more environmentally-friendly campus.
The Glean Team is committed to serving local farmers and food banks by engaging students and community members in sustainable agricultural service that provides fresh produce to those in need in Walla Walla County. Gleans are a marvelous way for Whitman students to connect with the Walla Walla community, meet other Whitman students, have fun and get their hands on some produce!
It is the mission of the Whitman College Glean Team to raise awareness on issues pertaining to food insecurity in the Walla Walla area. We hope to engage the Whitman community as well as the greater Walla Walla community through harvesting and donating fresh produce to the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) food distribution warehouse. BMAC distributes the donated produce to the food banks within Walla Walla County. In addition to encouraging participation on regular gleans throughout the harvest season, our mission will be accomplished through on-campus film showcases, symposiums and other events related to gleaning and food insecurity.
Advisor: Susanne Altermann altermsm@whitman.edu
The Whitman Organic Garden was created in 1997 by four students with the help of staff and faculty. The Organic Garden produces eggs and grows a wide variety of annual and perennial vegetables, fruits and herbs. The garden is also a space dedicated to spiritual renewal, meaningful labor and community vitality. The Organic Garden is a place where students and community members can hang out, play with chickens, get dirty in the soil and enjoy the process of creatively growing and eating food. Enjoy a nighttime walk to the garden, sit under the gazebo, pick some basil and so much more!
The student Organic Garden Club maintains the garden and organizes events to open the space up to everyone. During the school year, the garden is run by volunteers and during the summer a Whitman student intern is hired to keep the garden watered and healthy.
In an effort to improve soil fertility, the Organic Garden often accepts contributions of food scraps from Whitman students and community members. The simple but effective compost system turns the contributed waste into rich soil used to grow more food. “Open Gardens” are periodic events when the garden is open to anyone and everyone who wants to be involved. All you have to do is show up! Open Gardens are announced on the organic garden listserv garden@whitman.edu .
Student Contact: Melanie Kirtland kirtlamr@whitman.edu
Faculty Advisor: Susanne Altermann altermsm@whitman.edu
Mycology Club members are students who are interested in the foraging and cultivation of fungi. The club holds mushroom forays in the fall and spring and fungi cultivation workshops throughout the year. During club meetings, all things related to mycology are discussed.
It is the mission of the Whitman College Mycology Club to promote interest, education and awareness of the Fungi Kingdom within the Whitman community. We grow gourmet mushrooms in the shed behind Lyman House. Club members will have many hands-on experiences. Mycology club meets weekly to discuss and identify collected wild mushrooms. They also organize lectures, watch fungal documentaries, cook mushrooms and do other fun activities!
Advisor: Susanne Altermann altermsm@whitman.edu
The Whitman College BIPOC Outdoor Club is dedicated to creating a welcoming and safe community for BIPOC students to explore outdoor activities, strengthen outdoor skills and build meaningful friendships and connections.
Student Contact: Atish Batliwalla batliwa@whitman.edu
The Sunrise Movement is powered by young people across the country fighting to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. Sunrise is working to make climate change an urgent priority across America and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people.
The Whitman College Interest House Community is a group of residential houses in which students are encouraged to connect with each other and the Whitman community by engaging in an interest specific to each house. The Environmental Studies Interest House, commonly known as the Outhouse, focuses on environmental and ecological issues by promoting education about the environment and encouraging environmentally-sustainable practices.
The Outdoor Program is committed to providing equitable access for all to the outdoors. The Outdoor Program (OP) fosters personal growth, facilitates learning and creates recreational opportunities through skills and risk management training, leadership development and environmentally sound trips in a supportive community.
Zero Wasting is designing, using and managing products and processes to eliminate all waste, and conserve, recover and recycle all resources. Put simply, they are helping to reduce Whitman’s impact on our landfills, while engaging with and educating the Whitman College community about how to live more sustainably. The Sustainability Office offers Whitman College Clubs and Student Organizations the option to make their events sustainable, by providing Zero-Waste Warriors or Zero-Waste training for club members.
The Sustainability Committee is dedicated to building a sustainable campus, keeping in mind the three pillars of equity, economy and environment. The committee envisions and works toward a world where our practices and actions make responsible use of resources to uplift one another. We help orient ASWC projects towards healthy development for a broad, inclusive Whitman community. We recognize and address the intersections of social justice and environmentalism by advocating for mindful policies through ASWC and the Whitman Administration.
Contact: sustainability@whitman.edu
The Whitman College Office of Sustainability unites the efforts of faculty, staff and students to promote leadership in sustainability. The Office of Sustainability employs students to aid in harmonizing our interaction with the natural environment through outreach, environmental stewardship, institutional advocacy and the integration of sustainability into institutional policies, programs and practices.
Email: sustainability@whitman.edu
The mission of the Sustainability Advisory Committee is to promote a respect for and commitment to environmental awareness and responsibility within the Whitman College community. This dedicated group of faculty, staff and students meets monthly to develop a direction for an increased commitment to sustainability that stretches across all of campus..
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Whitman College is responsible for championing issues of inclusion for the entire campus community in ways that promote a sense of belonging for all faculty, staff, and students. We believe that inclusion is a shared responsibility of all members within our community and that justice for all acts as the Northstar in these efforts.