The Associated Students of Madison Sustainability Committee met Wednesday to discuss potential campaigns for the upcoming school year.
Leading the agenda were plans to launch a “green fund” on campus. The fund would be used to give grants to environmentally-based, student-run projects, with money coming from student segregated fees.
A typical student pays close to $560 a semester from tuition in student segregated fees, which are used to support different student organizations.
The portion of the fees that the committee would like to use from for the “green fund” is yet to be determined, but current proposals are around $2 to $3, meaning close to $80,000 could be utilized each semester.
It is also uncertain whether the money would be taken from funds already allotted to segregated fees or if segregated fees would need to increase for the green fund.
Chair Will Mulhern said he believes the “green fund” would be a positive venture for the committee to undertake.
“[It] would be a chance to give the means to go after different projects for the campus that would be beneficial to not just the students but the environment itself,” Mulhern said.
Members brainstormed possible campaigns to take on, including the reduction of plastic containers and the introduction of locally-sourced dining options.
Additionally, plans were discussed for the continuation of the Sustainability Fair, which would be a networking event for various environmental groups on campus. Current plans are to hold the fair sometime in November.
Mulhern said he hopes the fair will serve as “the glue that holds the environmental student organizations together”.
