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Green fee proposal fails to get vote
Fees committee says proposal is outside of guidelines, supporters hope to take the issue directly to students through initiative process
Nick Ngo
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: News
A proposal to increase a student fee to convert OSU to 100 percent renewable energy hit a road block in the student/incidental fees committee on Friday, and now supporters hope to take the issue directly to student voters in April.
The fees committee came to a decision during Friday's hearing not to vote on the Green Fee proposal, which rather than create a new fee would have increased a currently operating sustainability fee.
The proposal called for increasing the sustainability fee from $1.85 per student, per term to $8.50 per student, per term to fund the conversion to renewable energy and reduce the use of coal and natural gas.
Committee members said the proposal did not fit the guidelines for the sustainability fee and recommended that supporters try to put the issue on the ballot.
"We feel this is an inappropriate use of fee money," said Committee member Allison Jenness.
Jenness said it also did not promote the further development of culture and educational goals on campus.
ASOSU's Environmental Affairs Task Force, which organized efforts in support of the fee, disagrees with the fees committee.
"In our presentation, we provided information about why it does meet the guidelines for student fees," said Andrea Norris, director of the task force.
The task force believes it did meet fee guidelines because when students purchase the renewable energy, the school receives reinvestment funds from the energy provider. Norris said this can help fund renewable energy projects and provide education.
"We also feel there is a very direct connection between reducing coal consumption and the physical well being of students," Norris said. "I think it effects the physical well being of everyone, because we share the atmosphere."
OSU Business Analyst Justin Fleming introduced the $1.85 Student Sustainability Fee in 2003. The fee helps recycling and other projects in addition to providing internships and jobs, Fleming said
The fees committee came to a decision during Friday's hearing not to vote on the Green Fee proposal, which rather than create a new fee would have increased a currently operating sustainability fee.
The proposal called for increasing the sustainability fee from $1.85 per student, per term to $8.50 per student, per term to fund the conversion to renewable energy and reduce the use of coal and natural gas.
Committee members said the proposal did not fit the guidelines for the sustainability fee and recommended that supporters try to put the issue on the ballot.
"We feel this is an inappropriate use of fee money," said Committee member Allison Jenness.
Jenness said it also did not promote the further development of culture and educational goals on campus.
ASOSU's Environmental Affairs Task Force, which organized efforts in support of the fee, disagrees with the fees committee.
"In our presentation, we provided information about why it does meet the guidelines for student fees," said Andrea Norris, director of the task force.
The task force believes it did meet fee guidelines because when students purchase the renewable energy, the school receives reinvestment funds from the energy provider. Norris said this can help fund renewable energy projects and provide education.
"We also feel there is a very direct connection between reducing coal consumption and the physical well being of students," Norris said. "I think it effects the physical well being of everyone, because we share the atmosphere."
OSU Business Analyst Justin Fleming introduced the $1.85 Student Sustainability Fee in 2003. The fee helps recycling and other projects in addition to providing internships and jobs, Fleming said
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