THE
UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT CONGRESS
SESSION
LXXVII
CBN:
770502
GRADUATE
STUDENT SENATE
SBN:
GS07-19
April
1, 2007
Title: A CONCURRING RESOLUTION
REGARDING THE
Whereas: Climate change is an important issue
to our generation and future generations. The issue must be addressed by the
student body, faculty & staff, and the administration; and,
Whereas: As a university
we have influence in society, the capable minds and resources, and the diversity
of skills needed to address the issue of climate change and accomplish the goal
of carbon neutrality; and,
Whereas: There is a
compelling interest among the student body to see the issue addressed by
student body leaders, faculty/staff, and the administration; and,
Whereas: Student groups,
faculty, and staff that are already in a position to help implement policies to
reduce emissions, implement the use of clean, efficient energy, and seek other
ways to accomplish the stated goal; and,
Whereas: Currently, there
is a campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory being conducted that will calculate
how much our campus emits as a whole, where these emissions come from, and in what
areas we can make changes; and,
Whereas: The University of
Oklahoma should make it a goal to accomplish carbon neutrality by the year 2050;
and,
Whereas: The President's
Climate Commitment, a nation-wide, multi-university effort toward reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, provides the administration an opportunity to join other universities
from around the country in joining a pledge to reduce campus' impacts on
climate change; and,
Whereas: UOSA recognizes and applauds the
Let it therefore be
resolved:
Section 1: UOSA requests
the establishment and implementation of the following long-term goals and solutions:
·
a University pledge of carbon neutrality by the
year 2050
·
using 15% of electricity from purchased or
produced renewable energy within the next two years
·
a 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by
the year 2025
·
a policy within the next two years stating that
new campus buildings be built with U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards
·
the ongoing implementation of policies that
encourages students, faculty, and staff to use public transportation and
encouraging bicycling and walking when commuting on and off campus
·
the ongoing purchase of hybrid,
hybrid/electric, ethanol, biofuel and compressed
natural gas for University fleet vehicles
·
increasing educational opportunities for
students to learn about stewardship and the impact of consumption on the
environment
Section 2: UOSA requests
the establishment implementation of the following short-term goals and solutions:
·
a Housing/Greek recycling/energy-use
competition within the next year
·
a policy stating that all IT computers
hibernate when they are not being used and that IT printing settings/properties
be set to automatic two-sided printing within the next year
·
a policy that begins the installation of motion
sensor/dimming lighting systems in campus buildings within the next year
·
a policy that requires that a portion of the
printing paper bought by faculty and staff be recycled paper and that a price
discount be negotiated with the supplier within the next year
Section 3: Due to the longevity of this
resolution, it is required that this bill be updated and reconsidered every two
years by the legislative branch;
Section 4: Copies of this resolution shall be sent
to:
David L. Boren, President
Nicholas Hathaway, Vice President, Executive
Affairs
Burr Milsap,
Associate Vice President, Administrative Affairs
Don Carter, Assistant Director, Engineering
and Systems Operations
Sue-Anna Miller, Assistant Director,
Administration and Operations
Scott Davis, Assistant Director, Utilities
Theta Dempsey, Parking and Transportation
Services
Kelly Watson, Architectural & Engineering
Greg Brezinski, Refuse & Recycling
Frank Reid, Electrical Engineer
Steve Long, Director of Energy Management
Deborah Dalton, Director of Interdisciplinary
Perspectives on the Environment
Student Media
Author: Eric Pollard, External Affairs
Committee
Rod Jahromi,
Vice-Chair of UOSA
Jordan McGee, Secretary
Matt Felty, Chairman
of Problems & Projects Committee
Tara Tannehill,
Chairwoman of External Affairs Committee
Felipe Armaza,
Projects and Problems Committee
Submitted in a motion:
Rep. Gilliam, Seconded by Rep. Tannehill
Action taken by congress:
Passed by Consent
Verified by Congress:
______________________________________ Date: ____________________
Submitted on a Motion by:
Senator Yang, Seconded by Senator Goebbert
Action taken by Senate:
Passed by Consent
Verified by Chair:
_________________________________________ Date: ____________________
Approved by UOSA President: _______________________________ Date:
____________________