Union approves green fee proposal

PUBLISHED by The Daily Free Press

The Environmental Student Organization's proposal for a $10 per semester student fee that would fund green initiatives was approved by the Student Union last night.


The optional "green" fee, which will go to improving campus recycling and pay for energy efficient light fixtures, would be similar to the Sports Pass that students can opt not to accept.

According to the ESO proposal, "Revenues from the fee will go into a fund that will be spent on a wide range of initiatives to improve the environmental performance of the Charles River Campus."

ESO President Rachel Leone said the fee, which her group has been working on, must still be approved by the administration before being put into effect.

"We came up with the idea at the end of last year . . . because we're concerned about sustainability on campus, or lack thereof," Leone, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, said.

The BU Sustainability Committee -- an ESO initiative -- which has already been approved by President Robert Brown, will allocate the funds, according to the Proposal to Establish the Green Fee and Promote Sustainability At Boston University.
Leone said rising tuition costs are partially attributed to inefficient energy costs, and the green fee would save not only energy but money in the long run.

"We could have smart heating and cooling systems that turn off and on when it's hot or cool enough in the buildings," she said. "In [dorms], it's a billion degrees, and people open the windows, and it's wasting energy and money."

The committee's co-chairs will be Vice President for Operations Gary Nicksa and CAS geography and environment professor Cutler Cleveland, according to the proposal. The committee will also include Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore, various office representatives, faculty and students.