By Emily Bruzzo, Staff Writer

Published in print Oct. 22, 2014

Officers from UNCGreen met in the Elliot University Center on Monday to present their Green Fund proposal in front of the UNC Greensboro Student Fee Committee.

Gray Williams, UNCGreen Co-Chair, spoke on behalf of the group, opening by saying, “We believe the Green Fund is a way to meet sustainability requirements and goals on campus.”

Williams reminded the committee that sustainability is one of the core values of UNCG and is a component of the 2009 strategic plan: UNCG Tomorrow.

Sustainability has become a focus of the UNC system, something reflected by a policy passed in 2009 that established a goal for UNC institutions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

This means eliminating all carbon outputs.

Additionally, Chancellor Brady signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in October 2011.

The focus of the UNC system and the drive to move UNCG towards a greener future resulted in the adoption of the UNCG Climate Action Plan in July 2013.

With all the actions to better support sustainability at UNC institutions, UNCGreen argues there is no better time than the present to introduce something like the Green Fund to move UNCG forward. 

“What we’re proposing,” Williams said, “is a five dollar fee levied on every full-time student once a semester for the purpose of improving sustainability on campus. This is not a unique idea. Plenty of other colleges, including many of our peer institutions, have established a Green Fund.”

Williams explained there are 14,400 full-time students and a five dollar fee would result in revenues of $72,000 each semester, which totals to $144,000 for an academic year.

The Green Fund is not a substantial fee, something Williams attempted to convey by showing that it costs the same amount as a Subway foot-long or a burrito from Chipotle.

“Compared to other fees,” Williams argued, “it really doesn’t make much of a dent.”

Regarding what the fee would fund, Williams assured the committee there is no shortage of ideas.

Some of the potential projects Williams cited were: paid sustainability internships and the installment of occupancy sensors, light dimmers and LED bulbs for buildings on campus.

Williams also walked the Student Fee Committee through the responsibilities and basic structure of the proposed Green Fund Committee.

The committee would manage and administer the revenue that was generated by the fee.

Additionally, it would help develop projects, provide grants for student projects and establish a bank account through the university in order to better manage funds.

The Green Fund Committee would consist of seven student members: one appointed by the Student Government Association, one appointed by the Graduate Student Association, one from the Residence Hall Association, one from UNCGreen and three approved through an annual application process. 

There would be a total of six faculty and staff, which would form the Executive Body of the Sustainability Council.