Students, faculty and staff will have the choice about what green initiatives will be implemented next fall. The fee was passed by a student vote of 1416 to 282.
Elana Gulas, president of the Initiative for Clean Energy helped with bringing this green fee about.
“I want to come back next year and see solar panels, meters on the buildings so that students know how much energy they’re using,” said Gulas.
By voting in the green fee, the student body has created another committee on campus and elected to pay an additional $5 fee with tuition.
This committee that will delegate how the money brought in will be used.
“I just want to see someone who is passionate about greening campus to be on the committee,” said Gulas.
Some steps ETSU has taken to be a greener campus are the recycling initiatives, composting sites were set up a few weeks ago at the physical plant near the recycling dumpsters, and University High has three composting piles. ETSU has also switched to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Elana said Tyler Gavigan, the new recycling coordinator, has been very helpful in getting knowledge about the green fee out to the student body.
ETSU is the seventh school in Tennessee to approve the green fee.
“It’s so amazing,” said Gulas, “There’s so many possibilities.”
Gulas credits the recycling program to many of the changes that have already taken place such as the hybrid vehicles, the composting piles, and yellow bikes.
“Maybe a green habitat house, green residence hall, degrees coming from it to teach students green jobs,” were some of the ideas Gulas had for the green fee.
Gulas was unsure before the vote as to whether the green fee would pass.
“They [students] don’t realize yet what they are doing and how it impacts the environment, ETSU may be a small school but in the grand scheme every little bit helps,” said Gulas.
With more than 13,000 students on campus, a fee of $5 per student the green fee will raise upwards of $65,000 a semester.

Author