The Associated Students of Madison Student Council decided Wednesday to reconsider the creation of a grassroots sustainability committee after University of Wisconsin-Madison students showed interest in the committee’s creation.
Much of the meeting was dedicated to open forum where several UW-Madison students spoke in favor of creating the proposed Sustainability Committee, which was voted down in a council meeting last week.
UW-Madison student Kevin Mauer said in open forum he felt a sustainability committee would be beneficial in addressing environmental issues on campus.
Mauer said the university’s use of fossil fuels is a current issue he felt the sustainability committee could address.
“It is immoral for the university to have investments in fossil fuel industry… and immoral for students to pay into it, when it won’t be beneficial,” Mauer said.
Other students also said they felt the committee would give students a voice in addressing sustainability or alternative forms of energy, beyond what is offered through classes and majors.
After Student Council voted down the committee last week, ASM Rep. Collin Higgins, who first proposed the new committee two weeks ago, said he sent out emails to students to attract their attention because he felt council representatives wanted to hear more about students’ opinion on the issue.
ASM Nominations Board Chair Sean McNally motioned to reconsider the committee’s creation after hearing from students in open forum.
Council voted to address and vote on the committee in its next meeting Oct. 31.
According to ASM Press Office Director David Gardner, the council will need to approve the committee in two consecutive meetings for it to be created.
