I got an email yesterday from Roland Saekow, a student at the University of California at Berkeley and coordinator of "The Green Initiative Fund." The Green Initiative Fund is a student fee referendum that Roland and other students are trying to get passed at a student election this April 11-13. According to the measure, TGIF is a fee of $5 per student per semester that will raise over $200,000 for sustainability projects to make "Cal" greener. The initiative is entirely student driven. TGIF will help improve the environmental sustainability of UC Berkeley by funding projects to make it more energy efficient, increase water conservation, promote renewable energy, bring better foods to campus, and create "green" student internships. If you visit their website at www.votetgif.com, you can find useful information, videos, and documents about this important green milestone at the Berkeley campus. I realize that when you are in school, times are tight and you are lucky to scrap together a few bucks to hit the dollar menu at McDonalds. However, I think that the TGIF initiative is a great cause that would not only help the students but it would also help make the campus more sustainable for years to come...building a legacy of green awareness for future students. I have set up links below for more information. Thanks Roland for the heads up.
We can't forget, this $5 is going to get wrapped up into however much of student fees the school charges, which will go to booze and other partying. Plus, it'll get amortized over whatever low-interest, consolidated loan period you choose! Think of it like doing some good by paying 1/16 of a penny every day for the next 30 years. :)
Posted by: Preston | April 07, 2007 at 03:11 PM
Thanks for the comment Preston. Hopefully that isn't the case...you would like to see the students benefit from an initiative like this but you do run a risk, if the funds aren't properly managed with proper financial controls, of funding "happy hour" every night of the week. Hopefully Roland will keep us posted as to the progress.
Posted by: Garrett Koerner | April 07, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Hi,
In regard to some of the questions posed by Preston, I can tell you the following:
The spending of the funds is controlled by a detailed set of Bylaws and records will be kept publically.
Furthermore, a Grant Making Committee encompasing the Graduate Assembly, Associated Students of the University of California, Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability, student body, faculty, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Vice Chancellor of Facilities Services decides how the money will be spent
-- it definately will not be spent on partying.
To deal with inflation:
"After Spring 2010, the fee will increase every three years to cover the cost of inflation and other increases (including the cost of energy) in the following manner:
o 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10 (Years 1 -3): $5.00 per semester
o 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 (Years 4-6): $5.50 per semester
o 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 (Years 7-10): $6.00 per semester "
For more information, please see our "In Detail" page:
http://votetgif.com/detail.html
Thanks and Vote TGIF!
Posted by: Roland Saekow | April 08, 2007 at 06:20 PM
This initiative is really great! I'd love to participate in an event like this
Posted by: thesis writing | December 23, 2010 at 10:09 AM
I always want to do some thing for our plant.
And most important now is stopping to destroy the green land and improving our fault system into green system.I hope this event is going successfully from it birth.Thanks
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