Sustainability fee initiative fails to receive student government support

After a lengthy debate, the UNCW Student Legislative Body failed to pass a resolution supporting a new university sustainability fee Tuesday, Oct. 13. The fee would have covered costs associated with increased recycling opportunities, student sustainability education, and other capital projects that would reduce campus energy use. Ultimately, it failed with six in favor, 24 opposing and three abstaining.

The debate lasted approximately one hour, with the negative debates significantly out numbering the positive. In a formal statement from the Student Government Association (SGA), Student Body Vice President Charles Soden wrote, "Student Government representatives raised concerns about the cost of the fee to students, the long term nature of many of the projects, and whether or not the money saved would ultimately come back to student's wallets." The cost to students was a major point of the legislative members, with many concerned that the fee imposed would not impact students now with long term plans for much of the funds.

At-Large Representative Jenna Roney said, "I'm a big supporter of sustainability. However, I believe that being sustainable means being sustainable both financially and environmentally, and I'm not sure that imposing another fee on students in this economic time is what will be best in the interest of financial sustainability."

President Pro-Tempore Bobby Phillips reinforced this idea when he said, "Yes, we need to think sustainably to limit costs and expenses and help the environment. But now we should not and cannot financially sustain these investments that will not benefit us for the next decade at least."

Many other representatives commended the university on its current progress regarding sustainability, referring to the thousands UNCW has already saved by taking sustainable steps with little to no cost incurred, such as going "tray-less" in Wagoner Dining Hall. According to the SGA's formal statement, UNCW has lowered its energy usage by 11 percent in the past year alone, giving supporters of the failed bill something to look to with hope.

Because so much of the savings incurred by energy efficiency would not necessarily be felt by the students fronting the money for the proposed projects, the SGA proposed that the initiatives "would be better shouldered by the university through general funds, exploration of federal grant opportunities, or performance contracting." These are possibilities with great potential that may be looked into in years to come as the economy makes its way back. "The Sustainability Fee Initiative was proposed to the Fee Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and is continuing to follow the process of fees, regardless of SGA support," said Michael Hazlett, SGA/Sustainability Committee Liaison. The fee will move to the Fee Committee and then the Board of Trustees, but if it is not approved, UNCW ECO does have plans to try again with a similar proposal next fall with support from the Chancellor's Sustainability Committee.