UTSA Puts Green Fund to an Earth Day Vote
February 15th, 2010
Posted by Eric Bremer
In a resounding show of leadership amongst Texas universities, The University of Texas at San Antonio has joined in the initiative of many top universities to put the Think Green Fund to a vote by the general student body. The vote will occur on Earth Day (April 22nd), giving students a chance to decide their energy future. The Think Green Fund initiative was placed on the ballot after the UTSA Student Government Assembly heard debate for it last Thursday and voted to have the issue placed on its own special ballot.
There is strong support for the Think Green Fund at UTSA, and it has become the top initiative of several student groups including ReEnergize San Antonio, The Green Society, Young Democrats of UTSA, and Students for John Sharp to educate their fellow students of the benefits of this fund. It has been amazing to see these groups all come together, with one common goal, to make UTSA a leading University in Texas through sustainability projects.
The Think Green Fund is a $5 fee paid by each student every semester, and this money can go to whatever renewable energy, energy efficiency, or other sustainability projects students choose for their campus. The goal of this fund is to allow students to become actively involved in providing a cleaner energy future for their university, lower energy cost to combat rising tuition rates, and educate students about creative ways to look at our future energy needs as they move into their professional lives.
UTSA student who does not wish to spend money to further this program and will be voting no on the ballot. I do not see it fair for people to charge me money for an initiative I do not support or see a purpose for.
Chris – you have a right to your opinion and your vote. If a majority agrees with you, they will vote against the fund. But students at UTSA are currently paying for electricity coming from coal, gas, and nuclear power plants. Is it fair that students who want clean, safe, sustainable energy have to be charged for that? No it isn’t, but that’s how democracies (and republics) work. This campaign will give democratically determined priorities a seat at the table. You have a voice and a vote – that’s more than can be said for generations of students who have been forced to support non-sustainable practices in order to get an education.
I agree with Chris. Causes on which all people do not agree should be donated to willingly and not forced upon people who don’t want it and can’t afford it. In a recession after a 9% rate hike this is no time to be forcing already strapped for cash college students to pay even more. I read about how the other colleges are using it; human powered gym that you say will save the students money because it saves the college a few bucks on the electric bill. Ya’ll really think the college is gonna pass that savings along to the students? It is the job of the university to initiate cost cutting measures and not the responsibility of the students to do the job that the universities are supposed to be doing, yet somehow never seem to get done. We need to be more considerate of the poor and help to lower their tuition and not raise it.
“Is it fair that students who want clean, safe, sustainable energy have to be charged for that?”
If they don’t like the energy practices that much, then they can go to another school. No one is forcing them to be here. This is college. However, if the practices do change, then the reverse would apply – those who do not like the change would have the same apply for them.
“No it isn’t, but that’s how democracies (and republics) work”.
One, we are a deomcratic republic, not a democracy in any way according to the constitution. If that were the case, then the majority would have an EXTREME amount of abusive power. That is why we do not let a majority of people control what a minority can do. This vote should not be up to the students, but to the department who controls the energy supply at the school.
“This campaign will give democratically determined priorities a seat at the table.”
This, once again, seems like you are supporting a democracy, which, as mentioned earlier, we are not.
“generations of students who have been forced to support non-sustainable practices in order to get an education”
No one is forcing anyone. There are other schools and other options.
Despite your gross negligence of the way the system works, I will be voting for the green fund. I support the idea of cleaner energy, as long as it is more efficient. Also, the tuition increase, to my understanding, is not as drastic as the opposition claims it to be. I would like you, as the representative of a cause, to be more understanding of your opposition, otherwise you will repel them even further, along with others who would support your cause.
@Jacobis Aile
You say, “we are a deomcratic republic, not a democracy … then the majority would have an EXTREME amount of abusive power. That is why we do not let a majority of people control what a minority can do.”
You’re exactly right. Pure democracy is rule by majority. In a pure democracy, a 51% majority can vote to force 100% of the population to ante up for things like green funds, and socialized health care.
You also say, “If they don’t like the energy practices that much, then they can go to another school. No one is forcing them to be here.”
This statement completely undermines the other one. If you are against pure democracies, then why would you essentially tell people who disagree, “tough cookies?” For someone declaring a “gross negligence of the way the system works” you sure seem like you are lacking on the same topic.
You say, “However, if the practices do change, then the reverse would apply – those who do not like the change would have the same apply for them.”
That’s true. Know what the difference is? You are voting to force ALL students who wish to attend school to pay an additional fee. We are voting to leave the option open to the individual. There is nothing stopping you from donating money of your own accord.
Seriously, people are complaining about a $5 increase. Its $5 people, thats it! Think about it just a small amount of money, less than most people spend on lunch every day, and we not only help the environment, um yeah which includes us, we can even be greedy and help ourselves by filtering the money that we would have spent on current energy systems and distribute the savings back to the student(think of it like a tax return)by using more environmentally conscious methods, such as solar panels, to harness the energy and resources that are already around us. What people need to understand is that one person can have an effect even if it doesnt seem that way, its a chain reaction that can grow into a massive movement. So if you vote in support of the change, most likely so are a lot of others around you.
Only 5$? Only the cost of a regular lunch? Oh, well then. How about you pony up that infinitesimal amount of money and buy me a sandwich? Or are you too greedy?
The very idea that the savings will filter back to the students is ridiculous. First off if that’s true, then the university should want to increase their profits by doing it on their own! Secondly, when is it exactly that I can expect this return on my investment? After the next tuition hike perhaps? If you think the tuition is going to go anywhere but UP you’ve been smoking too much green.
You’re right. One person can have an impact. Buy me a sandwich and fill a hungry man’s stomach. Otherwise, you can throw your money into the money hole if you like. I’ll keep mine for that lunch you mentioned.
Jose and others should read this post as well:
http://thinkgreenfund.org/2010/02/want-your-green-fee-to-make-college-more-affordable-here%E2%80%99s-how/
You guys who want the green fee need to take a look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHIo4VruGZY
Now. You tell me, which one looks better to you?
wow it sounds like youve been cheated out before. Heres an idea, why dont you stop being so angry and selfish and start thinking on a larger scale that impacts everyone. The problem with most americans is that we think only of ourselves and believe in our own minds that we are the center of the universe and that the planet exists merely for us to exploit, we dont take into account the effect that our actions have on the other billion or so species that we share it with. As to the lunch money predicament, if you cant find an extra $5 once a semester maybe you should find a more affordable university(try a community college)I guarantee that you spend way more than that weekly to buy gas, beer or cigarettes that end up strewn all over the road and polluting our environment. Have a nice day.
@ Rebecca Kronick
As a current student at a Texas System school I resent the fact that I should have to lower or change my standards of education to a community college because I am not rich enough to attend a school. I have attended UT Austin, UT El Paso, El Paso Community College, UTSA, and San Antonio College. I refuse to believe that people are so high up on their horses that they are prepared to refuse entry to bright young minds because they cannot afford the tuition. I MUST agree with Jose on the part where this WILL NOT filter back to students, as UTSA is already looking into another tuition increase within the next 2 years. Please do not infer that we all drink or smoke, because I do none of those. I spend my money on books, my education, my car gas bill, and supplies for school. I am a full time student with a full time job as well as a part-time job, and a business of my own. I use as many eco-friendl products and services as my funds allow me to. But! It is highly unfair that this initiative has fallen upon the students, because as John stated, that should be the job of the University. I know many members of the board of regents and they all have the same outlook, where if the University fails to do something productive at their own cost (The Green Fund), then the students that have that much more passion for the initiative will try to make a difference by charging already broke college students more for a job that belongs to the University. Remember, this is America, an affordable education is something you may take for granted, but the rest of the world is not so privileged. Most college students struggle to make ends meet, if you don’t you should count yourself lucky. It is shameful to think that just because you can afford a hike, everyone can. You must eat with a silver spoon and drink from a diamond cup.
all utsa students got this
“UTSA GREEN FUND VOTE IS APRIL 22-23
The UTSA Green Fund, if passed in the April 22-23 election and approved by the UT System Board of Regents, will consist of an increase to students of $5 per fall and spring semester and $2.50 per summer session. It would be a mandatory student fee for five years.
As per House Bill 3353, the UTSA Green Fund will provide environmental improvements through services related to recycling, energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation, employment, product purchasing, planning and maintenance, irrigation
and other sustainability issues. A campus committee with majority student representation would oversee the Green Fund.
Voting on this issue is Thursday, April 22 and Friday, April 23 on ASAP.”
well done!nice job!
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