Green effort continues

By Kristina Morris, contributing writer
Posted on September 6, 2007

Last spring, the SGA placed a special poll on officer election ballots proposing an increase in tuition in order to finance the Green Fund, with over 80 percent of the student body voting in favor of a nine dollar tuition increase.

Although the Green Bill was not passed last spring because student fees were already set, students and faculty are continuing their efforts to make JMU a green campus, Clean Air Coalition coordinator Aaron Sobel said.

The Green Fund is a collection of student fees used exclusively for financing sustainable projects on the James Madison University campus.

The Green Bill was not passed last spring after the Board of Visitors representative, Stacey Fuller, met with Dr. Mark Warner, Powanda said. Although Dr. Warner agreed with the ideas represented within the Green Bill to make JMU more energy efficient, he did not approve the idea of increasing student tuition. The Green Bill was never taken to the Board of Visitors to be approved.

“The Green Bill being approved by the student body shows the collective support,” Sobel said. “There is a very vigilant environmental student presence here on campus.”

“Representatives of the student body feel implementation of the Green Fund will promote student accountability for sustainable projects on the James Madison University campus,” EARTH and Clean Air Coalition activist Ryan Powanda said.

But students aren’t the only ones taking big steps to push sustainability on the JMU campus.

Over the summer, Dr. Rose signed the College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, making JMU the largest university in Virginia to have signed on to a project to reduce greenhouse emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

Last year, Dr. Rose also formed a university commission composed of students, faculty, staff and community members to review where JMU stands with sustainability efforts and make recommendations for improvements in the future.

There are already recommendations to create the next dining hall as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified building. This includes using more recycled materials and possibly implementing a green roof.

“The commission worked most of last year and will be presenting the report of recommendations to Dr. Rose within the next several weeks,” Co-chairman Towana Moore said. “Once that report is reviewed, we hope to see some of the recommendations put into place.”

JMU has already taken action towards becoming a green campus by replacing lighting in buildings with more energy efficient fixtures, installing low flow fixtures in buildings and replacing steam traps to avoid leaks.

Once the Green Fund is approved, student fees will go towards purchasing renewable energy, implementing energy efficiency upgrades, hiring a sustainability coordinator and providing funds for sustainable building design, Powanda said.

Sobel said JMU is an active campus.

“I am always astounded by the activeness of students on this campus,” Sobel said.  “That goes the same for all those in the administration of the campus too.  There really is a push to accomplish something here and you can see it every day. You just have to know where to look.”