Special presentations began with the Student Sustainability Collective and a campaign called “Fossil Fuel Free UCSD.” Take note, Washington — all political movements should alliterate and rhyme.
SSC’s Energy and Waste director Allie Platt encouraged council to pass a resolution in support of divesting from the worst environmental offenders in the energy industry, including Exxon Mobil, BP, and Chevron.
“Divestment is a call for the administration to be more transparent about the companies in which they have invested our money,” Platt said. “This holds them accountable for responsible investment practices.”
The collective emphasized that the companies not only contributed to climate change, but continuously engage in hydraulic fracking, mountaintop removal and other dedicated efforts to removing all that pesky nature.
The Green Initiative Fund continued this particularly environmentally friendly council meeting with an overview of two of the projects they’ve funded, Smart Garden and the Ellie’s Garden expansion.
Smart Garden is a fully automated garden sponsored by Engineers Without Borders at UCSD and will be built on the roof of Atkinson Hall in Earl Warren College. The student designers hope to have a prototype by the end of Spring Quarter 2013.
Ellie’s Garden is an existing student garden in ERC that is planning to expand. They will be bringing herbs and vegetables to a garden near the Europe and Latin America residence halls.
During this presentation, Guardian News Editor and purveyor of magic and happiness Zev Hurwitz brought me a Cherry Pepsi. And for the second council meeting in a row, my editors nonchalantly lingered behind me as I typed. (Editor’s note: We’re watching you.)
Following special presentations, council returned to discussing SSC’s resolution, with Platt urging members to act immediately.
“This movement is going and growing, and now is the time to push for it,” she said.
Council eventually passed the resolution to raucous applause from the public. On a legislative roll, council moved to discussing the UCAB referendum, with pressure to finalize the language for the spring ballot. Council voted to include an amendment specifying funding for the reopening of the Crafts Center.
Part of the new language mandates that UCEN will open fundraising efforts to support the Crafts Center and match the money that is raised. Despite objections concerning UCEN’s limited budget, council moved forward with its language changes, sending the resolution back to GSA.
Campuswide Senator Matthew Mayeda then reported tentatively excellent news that additional meetings have been scheduled to discuss changes to SHIP.
“Thank goodness we fought back,” he said. “We may be seeing an opportunity for more student input.”
