SG votes to table green fee resolution

By Kelli Long

A resolution presented to the Student Government Senate asking for $6 to $8 of student fees to support a green fee was tabled at Wednesday night’s meeting. The senators voted to table the resolution to have more time to look over a proposed amendment that specifically lays out how the fees will be allocated.

The amendment, presented by Sen. Mark Rouse, asks UK President Lee Todd to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. It also requires that the university initiates “a comprehensive plan that tries to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible,” according to the commitment.

The original proposal, sponsored by Sen. Robert Kahne, said the fees would go to the sustainability committee, but it was up to their discretion as to where the money would be given.

“$150,000 can’t change the environment,” said Sen. Clayton Spiceland. “We need something that can bring in a more tangible change to improve the lives of UK students.”

The amendment and the original proposal will be voted on at the next full Senate meeting in two weeks. Sen. Sierra Enlow said the specifics of the resolution were not necessarily as important as the general

intentions of the legislation.

“The point is we are taking a step toward being green. We may not get the six to eight dollars but that’s not the point,” Enlow said.

Senators also voted to add a referendum to the freshman election ballots — occurring Oct. 8 and 9 — that asks the new students if they are satisfied with the current dining plan. The revised plan, which went into effect this semester, allocates a limited number of meal swipes per week instead of by semester, as in the past years.

“This is an opportunity for students to voice their opinions,” said Grant Mills, SG vice president.

SG President Tyler Montell also is in favor of seeing the referendum placed on the ballot.

“What better way to get freshman opinion than to ask them on the ballot,” Montell said.

Susan Carvalho, chair of the UK General Education Committee, was at the meeting to present the university’s plan that will replace the University Studies Program. The plan requires that all student take ten classes that fall under four different categories that “are useful for all students,” according to Carvalho.

The plan would require student to take a certain number classes from the four categories: Intellectual Inquiry (four classes), Communication (two classes), Citizenship (two classes) and Quantitative Reasoning (two classes).

The propsoed classes may vary from those currently offered that fit under the university studies program, Carvalho said.

“It might create additional classes by splitting two courses packaged as one but are not very productive,” she said.

The plan will be voted on by the Senate in December and classes will be planned and approved in order to be offered to the all entry freshman in the fall of 2010.