Posted on April 16, 2007
More than 80 percent of JMU students who took part in the recent SGA election, voted to establish a Green Fund, which, as stated on the SGA ballot, proposed the addition of $9 in annual student fees in order to work to reduce energy usage at JMU.
“I personally did vote for the referendum,” Vice President of Administrative Affairs Lee Brooks said. “I feel it is a good cause, and I would not mind spending $9 on a student fee that could make JMU the first university to ‘go green.’”
The Clean Energy Coalition, sponsor of the referendum, intends to use the Green Fund in order to establish a Green Fund Committee composed of faculty and staff who will decide how to spend the money on energy efficiency and conservation efforts.
“There are still many bureaucratic steps that we have to take to get the fund established,” Marley Green, a member of CEC, said. “In the immediate future, the money will be used to increase JMU’s energy efficiency beyond what we are already doing. If we use less energy, then it becomes more feasible to begin buying clean, renewable energy.”
Green also said that people need to continue thinking about ways they can reduce their energy usage. The ultimate goal is to make JMU a green campus.
Most students are very supportive of the CEC’s cause.
“I think it would be great if we saw JMU take a step forward as the pioneer in a green movement across colleges nationwide,” freshman Therese Mayer said. “The Green Fund shows that JMU students want to make a difference and that they care about the environment.”
Student Body President Brandon Eickel (Jr.) also hopes to see energy usage decrease on campus.
“I am supportive of the Green Fund,” Eickel said. “I believe that if this cause does in fact receive funds from student fees and it is put to use through the various strategies and techniques outlined by the Clean Energy Coalition, it can have a positive impact on our campus and the environment.”
The Coalition has been advocating its cause to both the JMU community and the SGA.
SGA worked with the CEC in order to pass a Bill of Opinion — a petition that requires 10 percent of student body support. The Student Senate also passed the resolution that put the referendum on the ballot.
“The Executive Council, headed by Brandon Eickel, student body president, has been in contact with the Clean Energy Coalition and has supported them in their endeavors,” Brooks said. “A referendum has not been done in many years and this should be a sign to the student body that the SGA is supportive of the Clean Energy Coalition and will be there as a resource and an advocate for them.”
