The Student Activity Fee Committee will be meeting Nov. 20 to decide whether they will fund an Office of Sustainability through student fees. While we fully support the need for such an office, we are in disagreement of funding it through SAF.
We have written numerous editorials in the last two academic school years about the need for an Office of Sustainability. The simplified reasons are as follows: Georgia State will soon be the largest university in Georgia, both in population and real estate–it is only responsible to have a highly involved green initiative on campus; an official Office of Sustainability would bring thousands, if not millions, in grants to help usher innovation; internship opportunities and scholarships for students; groundbreaking research in green technology and sustainability–essentially, it fulfills every single one of Georgia State’s five strategic goals.
It’s win-win for both the university, the students and the city we occupy.
Georgia State is not completely un-green. The Recreation Center boasts a Green Globes certification (not many rec centers in the country have them) and the new law building is LEED certified.
But funding an Office of Sustainability through SAF is only half-assing it. SAF funds student activities, and it’s doubtful replacing light bulbs around campus and installing (and maintaining) solar panels would be considered student activities. The most this money will provide is activities and events to promote green awareness.
If we’re going to fund this, let’s do it right. Make an exception and create the mandatory fee.
