NIU students are burning to preserve.

The Committee of the Preservation of Wildlife (CPW), an NIU student organization, helps the environment by volunteering, burning prairie lands and organizing events.

Renee Kopulos, biology graduate student and treasurer for the CPW, said the organization allows for students to be aware of their wear and tear on the earth.

“I hope they learn to be more aware of the impact they are having on the planet,” she said.

According to the CPW Facebook page, the organization is made of students working together to protect and conserve wildlife and increase awareness and appreciation of the natural world.

Kopulos said the anti-styrene project happening this fall is trying to reduce the use of polystyrene in residence halls. The polystyrene is found in the containers that students purchase in the dining halls and are charged 20 cents every time they check out. But if a student requests a paper plate, they do not get charged.

“It is cheaper and also better for the environment to use the plate which will eventually biodegrade in the landfill,” she said.

Jigar Panchal, senior physical therapy major and president of CPW, said the organization hopes to plant a rain garden on campus near the Convocation Center this fall.

“A rain garden absorbs the unwanted rain water,” Panchal said. “It would help in the flooding situation.”

Kopulos said the garden is made up of native plants that would occupy the land if the buildings were not already there. She added that the plants have long roots that hold the water and soak it up to stop erosion and filter pollution.

The CPW participates in volunteer burn work at the Nachusa Grasslands every Saturday, Panchal said. He added that the burns allow for native prairie plants to grow.

“It’s pretty interesting to know that the burning allows for the plants to grow, and when it grows, it is beautiful,” Panchal said. “You’re still doing your part for the planet even if it is small scale.”

The CPW’s projects for the fall include setting up recycling boxes around campus for old ink cartridges and setting up a green tax for students, Pachal said. He added that if every student volunteered $2 it would help to lighten NIU’s carbon footprint on the earth.

During the spring semester, the CPW has an annual plant sale of native plants for fundraising, Kopulos said. Also the CPW organizes a walk for wildlife, a 12-mile walk around the entire campus.

The CPW meets every other Monday in Montgomery room 443 at 7 p.m. CPW can be contacted www.niu.edu/cpw.