On last semester’s homecoming ballots, students had the opportunity to cast their vote in support of a Green Fund. Although the fund didn’t win enough votes on the fall ballot, students who want to improve USM’s sustainability are giving this important initiative a second try.
A Green Fund is a pool of money coming from either a reallocation of tuition or a small student fee amounting to about $5 per student per semester. The Green Fund money would be used for programs to improve sustainability on our campus. Students will have the opportunity to support Green Fund initiative on the SGA ballots on February 18.
Phillip Pickett, a third year graduate student majoring in Polymer Science and Engineering, brought the idea of a green fund to USM after hearing about it at a leadership summit. As Vice President of the USM student group Sustainability Advocates, Pickett will be one of the students leading the information campaign for the Green Fund. Marcus Ocmond is also working to make the Green Fund a part of USM by sponsoring legislation for the fund in SGA Senate along with other Senate Members and serving as their Officer of Sustainability.
During a Sustainability Advocates meeting, Pickett elaborated on some of the potential uses of the Green Fund. These included projects such as: changing to energy efficient lighting, weatherizing windows, installing solar panels or bike canopies, creating a community garden or even simply putting “Turn Off Lights” stickers near light switches.
Other colleges such as the University of Arizona, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University already have their own versions of the green fund idea. These institutions post information online about how their take on the green fund works and some of the projects they have initiated. But this spring, it will be up to us, the students of the University of Southern Mississippi. So, would you be willing to spend $5 per semester to help Southern Miss go green?