WEBVTT 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:08.859 This is Climate to Action, a CSUSM student podcast. 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:12.480 My name is Saturn Salama. I am a second year 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.960 double major in literature and writing and theater. 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:19.620 I'm here because I believe climate justice might 00:00:19.620 --> 00:00:23.320 just save our lives. Climate to Action is here 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:26.120 to amplify voices and explore solutions in the 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:28.760 fight against climate change, and to address 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:32.159 climate injustice for all living things. We are 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:35.179 committed to incorporating discussions on Indigenous 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:38.159 knowledge in addressing the climate crisis, and 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:41.020 to provide a call to action in every episode. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:43.479 But first, we'd like to acknowledge that our 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:46.320 recording studio is located on the traditional 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:49.719 territory of the Luiseño -Payocoichin people. 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:53.500 CSUSM and its surrounding areas are still home 00:00:53.500 --> 00:00:56.420 to the six federally recognized bands of the 00:00:56.420 --> 00:01:00.920 La Jolla, Paula, Palma, Pachanga, Rincon, and 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.439 Ceboba -Luiseno -Payacuichan people. It's also 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:06.519 important to acknowledge that this land remains 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:10.140 the shared space among the Kupenyo, Kumeyaay, 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:13.310 and Ipai peoples. Today's episode is focused 00:01:13.310 --> 00:01:16.709 on CSUSM's campus and sustainability initiatives. 00:01:17.069 --> 00:01:19.950 We are delighted to introduce a special guest, 00:01:20.150 --> 00:01:23.109 the ASI Sustainability Representative for the 00:01:23.109 --> 00:01:26.530 2024 -2025 school year. Let's give a warm welcome 00:01:26.530 --> 00:01:29.549 to Ashley Skarsgård. Thank you so much for having 00:01:29.549 --> 00:01:33.489 me. Please tell us a bit about yourself and when 00:01:33.489 --> 00:01:36.489 did you first hear about climate change and climate 00:01:36.489 --> 00:01:40.959 action? Absolutely. So my name is Ashley Skarshaug. 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:43.540 I'm a third year here on campus, double majoring 00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:47.239 in criminology and political science. I first 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:50.439 heard about climate justice and climate change 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:54.060 probably back when we all did when like kindergarten, 00:01:54.140 --> 00:01:56.299 when you learn how to recycle for the first time. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.879 And honestly, ever since I've just been had a 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:02.219 really big passion for it and the drive has just 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:07.719 never ended. Sick. So what initially drew you 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:10.039 to being the ASI sustainability representative? 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:13.780 Because that's a big role. That's a role in student 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:16.479 government. So it goes beyond just like recycling. 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:20.479 So what impact were you hoping to make by being 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:23.080 the ASI sustainability representative? That's 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.599 a really good question. So originally, I got 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:29.580 into ASI as a whole in our Lobby Corps volunteer 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:33.180 opportunity back on my second year here on campus. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:35.800 And that's honestly when I found out what ASI 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:40.060 was. And so I was just really inspired just to 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:43.580 take on not just a leadership role, but something 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:45.599 that I was passionate about being sustainability. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:48.639 Like I said, I've been very passionate about 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:51.159 it low key since day one or more high key since 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:57.710 day one. And it's just been such a great adventure 00:02:57.710 --> 00:03:00.949 being the ASI sustainability representative from 00:03:00.949 --> 00:03:05.810 learning what the position does to doing the 00:03:05.810 --> 00:03:09.009 position to actually sitting there and sitting 00:03:09.009 --> 00:03:11.370 on those committees, having a vote, having a 00:03:11.370 --> 00:03:13.729 voice, telling them the concerns that students 00:03:13.729 --> 00:03:19.409 had. It was not only inspiring for me, but very 00:03:19.409 --> 00:03:23.979 much. continued to educate me in a sustainability 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:28.360 and environmental consciousness. Could you tell 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:30.879 us a bit more about what the ASI Sustainability 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.479 Representative does on a day -to -day? Yeah, 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:38.379 absolutely. So we sit on the board of directors, 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.020 which means that we hold office hours. So me 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:43.639 personally, my office hours were every Monday 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:47.740 and Wednesday. And it was... So what we would 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:49.659 do in our office hours is really like check our 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:52.960 emails, respond to students. We would make sure 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:54.759 that we're up to date on things that are going 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:57.020 on on campus, whether that's initiatives that 00:03:57.020 --> 00:04:00.960 are happening, events, etc. And then every Friday 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:05.560 or one Friday every month. We would have our 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:08.180 board of directors meeting where it was a committee 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:09.919 where all of the board of directors and our entire 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:13.020 exec team was there. And we would have either 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:15.699 action items, presentations brought in for us, 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.939 or even just students at large coming in to voice 00:04:18.939 --> 00:04:23.300 their concerns. And we would sit there, take 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:26.720 notes about if we had to just be informed students 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:30.319 to really give back to our community. And then 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.959 another thing that the ASI sustainability representative 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:37.430 does is we, oversee and chair the sustainability 00:04:37.430 --> 00:04:41.009 fund no the sustainability projects fund committee 00:04:41.009 --> 00:04:45.569 which is a committee where we oversee a budget 00:04:45.569 --> 00:04:48.410 of ten thousand dollars funded by the students 00:04:48.410 --> 00:04:51.069 for student -led initiatives with sustainability 00:04:51.069 --> 00:04:56.410 specifically and it's honestly just incredible 00:04:56.410 --> 00:04:59.230 to be able to have had this opportunity and to 00:04:59.230 --> 00:05:02.350 be able to continue sharing more about it Yes. 00:05:02.350 --> 00:05:06.350 Can you tell us a bit more about that $10 ,000 00:05:06.350 --> 00:05:08.529 sustainability fund? That's a lot of money. Like 00:05:08.529 --> 00:05:12.509 what projects did that committee decide to support 00:05:12.509 --> 00:05:16.610 and what outcomes are you most proud of? So just 00:05:16.610 --> 00:05:19.050 some projects off the top of my head would be 00:05:19.050 --> 00:05:22.350 the Milpa Hub. They've been on campus for a couple 00:05:22.350 --> 00:05:26.189 years now. We just funded them, I want to say 00:05:26.189 --> 00:05:30.110 last week. And then we also funded hydroponics, 00:05:30.110 --> 00:05:33.290 which we will start seeing both of these more 00:05:33.290 --> 00:05:36.629 emerge on campus next semester or the following 00:05:36.629 --> 00:05:40.629 semester. I'm very excited to see how they choose 00:05:40.629 --> 00:05:43.129 to spend these funds. I'm very much giving them. 00:05:44.089 --> 00:05:46.470 Or the committee is very much giving them, like, 00:05:46.490 --> 00:05:48.990 free will onto where they want to put these funds. 00:05:49.069 --> 00:05:52.069 We did give them, like, specified things on, 00:05:52.110 --> 00:05:55.110 you know, what we can and can't fund just regarding, 00:05:55.189 --> 00:06:02.550 like, logistics. So I'm really excited to see 00:06:02.550 --> 00:06:05.709 the Milpa Hub, honestly. come more to life. They 00:06:05.709 --> 00:06:08.709 have such an amazing community. I went and visited 00:06:08.709 --> 00:06:10.910 them the other day and there were so many people 00:06:10.910 --> 00:06:14.430 out there planting plants, eating food, just 00:06:14.430 --> 00:06:17.089 laughing and really having like such a bond. 00:06:17.230 --> 00:06:20.629 And it was just so amazing to see. Could you 00:06:20.629 --> 00:06:24.110 tell me a bit more about hydroponics? What is 00:06:24.110 --> 00:06:28.670 that? So hydroponics is kind of like a method 00:06:28.670 --> 00:06:32.329 of growing plants without using soil. So it uses 00:06:32.329 --> 00:06:36.910 more of a nutrient rich water instead. The ones 00:06:36.910 --> 00:06:39.050 that we funded specifically, I think they're 00:06:39.050 --> 00:06:41.089 going to have wheels and be like moved around. 00:06:41.449 --> 00:06:43.509 Cute. Yeah, it's going to have different plants. 00:06:44.230 --> 00:06:45.970 I'm very excited. I don't know if they're going 00:06:45.970 --> 00:06:47.910 to be like vegetables or fruits or anything. 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:51.540 definitely keep in touch maybe we'll find out 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:54.839 soon okay could you tell me a bit more about 00:06:54.839 --> 00:07:00.199 what your committee was funding like who they 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:06.300 decide to fund yeah so we have um like guidelines 00:07:06.300 --> 00:07:10.259 to follow when we are deciding like what projects 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:13.779 to fund um But the first thing that happens is 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:16.160 a student applies to the fund during the application 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:18.819 period. Does it have to be a student? It does. 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:23.060 Okay. Yes. So it's a student and then they have 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:26.819 to have a co -advisor of a staff or faculty member. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.079 But the whole point of SPF is really to have 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:33.779 a student -led initiative. So it's just really 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:35.959 like we're giving back the money that students 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:38.839 are giving to ASI. We're really just like always 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:43.420 bringing it back to the students. And so during 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:46.980 the application process, they'll apply and we 00:07:46.980 --> 00:07:51.019 get the applications and then we have our meeting, 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:54.699 our SPF meeting with the entire committee there, 00:07:54.779 --> 00:07:58.639 all of our advisors. And they have the option 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.480 to come in and present if they want, whether 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:03.000 that's just coming in with like a little speech 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:05.680 or coming in with a presentation like Canva slides, 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:09.540 super fancy. It's really up to them. So then 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:11.779 our committee goes into these things called a 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:14.779 closed session, where we just ask everyone to 00:08:14.779 --> 00:08:17.699 leave the room, except for, you know, the committee 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:19.680 and the advisors. And then we go over the guidelines 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:23.300 of SPF and whether or not we can fund it, how 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:26.519 much we want to allocate to that project. We 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:28.100 really just leave it up to the committee members. 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:31.399 As the chair, I don't vote necessarily on these 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:34.059 committees. However, I do just really oversee 00:08:34.059 --> 00:08:37.899 and kind of move the conversation along, just 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:44.340 really Make sure it's effective. So true. Looking 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:47.539 ahead, how do you plan to carry your experience 00:08:47.539 --> 00:08:50.580 with sustainability and student advocacy to your 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:53.490 future career? That's a really good question. 00:08:53.570 --> 00:08:56.250 Actually, this summer, I have an internship abroad 00:08:56.250 --> 00:09:00.570 as to work with a sustainability project in Belgium. 00:09:00.889 --> 00:09:04.129 And I'm very excited. So that's like the most 00:09:04.129 --> 00:09:06.610 recent thing that I'm going to be doing. And 00:09:06.610 --> 00:09:08.970 then just I'm definitely going to continue this 00:09:08.970 --> 00:09:13.720 passion I've had for so long. And I will. just 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:16.759 honestly continue with that path. And student 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:20.820 advocacy wise, I became the communications officer 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:24.100 for the pre -law society. So that's what I will 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:28.899 be doing next school year. And yeah, I'm honestly 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:30.779 just excited to see where the path takes me. 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:33.379 I'm just going to keep following it down. Yes. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.600 Sounds awesome. I can't wait to see what you 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.159 do and how you incorporate sustainability into 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:43.100 your future plans. Why do you think sustainability 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:46.480 should be a student issue, not just a campus 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:49.340 operations issue? I think it should be a student 00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:54.159 issue because we're not the future generation. 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:56.639 We're the current generation. We're the current 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:58.820 generation that can make change and we should 00:09:58.820 --> 00:10:03.129 be making change. Just if we see... anything 00:10:03.129 --> 00:10:05.269 our friend doesn't recycle something we should 00:10:05.269 --> 00:10:07.009 call them out there's little things in our day 00:10:07.009 --> 00:10:09.149 -to -day lives that we could be doing I'm not 00:10:09.149 --> 00:10:12.009 expecting everyone to go swimming in the ocean 00:10:12.009 --> 00:10:14.009 and pick up trash that'd be amazing if you do 00:10:14.009 --> 00:10:16.610 but there's little things in your day -to -day 00:10:16.610 --> 00:10:19.210 life that you could be doing and as the ASI sustainability 00:10:19.210 --> 00:10:22.250 rep that's something that I really tried to just 00:10:22.250 --> 00:10:27.590 push out there to students is like being sustainable 00:10:27.590 --> 00:10:33.320 isn't necessarily hard It could just be, I recycled 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:36.860 my Starbucks cup, I threw the ice down the sink, 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:40.460 and then I threw away the cup. It could be anything. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:42.600 It could be, I actually didn't even get a Starbucks 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:45.960 cup. I used my reusable cup this morning. It 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:53.019 could be really anything. I walk to school. Yeah. 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:57.250 Is there something you want to talk about? I 00:10:57.250 --> 00:11:00.129 also serve currently as the vice president of 00:11:00.129 --> 00:11:02.250 philanthropy and service for the Greek Leadership 00:11:02.250 --> 00:11:07.429 Council. And within that, I oversee one volunteer 00:11:07.429 --> 00:11:10.570 opportunity for everyone in Greek life to be 00:11:10.570 --> 00:11:14.289 able to participate in just that has to do with 00:11:14.289 --> 00:11:17.490 service and all of my future initiatives when 00:11:17.490 --> 00:11:22.539 it comes to planning. these service events is 00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:25.379 really trying to focus on sustainability efforts, 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:30.279 whether that's like a clothing drive or going 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:35.139 and cleaning up like a national, no, cleaning 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:40.240 up like a lake or the beach or just a park. It 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:42.139 could be anything. That's very much like what 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:46.080 my focus is going to be on though. And, yeah, 00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:48.580 so that's another way that I'm trying to, not 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:51.500 trying to, but going to be continuing my sustainable 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:56.480 efforts on campus and elsewhere. Absolutely. 00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:59.919 Thank you so much. In every episode of our podcast, 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:02.600 we have a call to action. We like to ask our 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:04.500 guests their thoughts about what our listeners 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:08.299 can do to positively impact our community. What 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:10.139 are some simple things people can do to help 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:13.419 address the climate crisis? Honestly, right now, 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:16.740 with the influx of AI in our day -to -day lives, 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:19.340 I've been seeing it everywhere, not only in our 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:24.259 classrooms, but even on TV shows and movies, 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:27.659 you'll have that AI guide in the corner. Please 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:31.980 don't use AI, guys. It's really harmful to the 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:35.500 environment. It uses a high energy consumption. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:38.860 It has a high energy consumption, especially 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:42.070 during its model training. So especially when 00:12:42.070 --> 00:12:45.450 it comes to things like chat GPT, just try and 00:12:45.450 --> 00:12:48.929 stay away from it. Turn off the AI search on 00:12:48.929 --> 00:12:53.149 Google if you can. I have. Yeah, that's honestly 00:12:53.149 --> 00:12:55.370 my biggest suggestion, especially just where 00:12:55.370 --> 00:12:59.009 the world is going now with artificial intelligence. 00:12:59.450 --> 00:13:03.850 Yeah. Let's try our hardest to avoid that if 00:13:03.850 --> 00:13:06.610 we could. There's other ways around it. If you 00:13:06.610 --> 00:13:10.759 have a question, you could Google it. Absolutely. 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:13.080 And thank you all for tuning in to this episode 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:15.879 of Climate to Action. Remember, whether it's 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:18.340 through learning more, making sustainable choices 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:21.059 or advocating for change, every step counts. 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:23.820 Keep taking action and we'll see you next time. 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:26.399 Thank you so much for being on our podcast. Thank 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.480 you so much for having me and for listening. 00:13:29.929 --> 00:13:32.629 Want to hear more from Climate to Action, a CSUSM 00:13:32.629 --> 00:13:35.009 student podcast? Listen wherever you get your 00:13:35.009 --> 00:13:37.470 podcasts and follow us on our socials at Climate 00:13:37.470 --> 00:13:39.990 to Action. For Instagram and YouTube, that's 00:13:39.990 --> 00:13:42.970 at Climate to Action. For TikTok, that's at Climate 00:13:42.970 --> 00:13:45.909 number two action. Visit for updates, behind 00:13:45.909 --> 00:13:48.750 the scenes content and more. Finally, Climate 00:13:48.750 --> 00:13:51.389 to Action wants to remind you to take climate 00:13:51.389 --> 00:13:53.970 action. We challenge you to take the first step 00:13:53.970 --> 00:13:56.470 in your own climate journey. Like Ashley suggested, 00:13:56.909 --> 00:14:00.559 maybe let's stop using AI. Let's transform our 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:02.879 climate curiosity into climate action together. 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:06.779 Remember, every small change can make a big impact 00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:09.799 when we work collectively. Climate to Action 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:12.740 is produced at Inspiration Studios on the CSUSM 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:15.360 campus and is funded through a generous donation 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:18.860 from the Rosemary Kramer Raitt Foundation. Until 00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:21.299 next time, this is Saturn from Climate to Action 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.100 signing off.