After failing to pass in the Undergraduate Senate, the Clean Energy Revolving Fund referendum will be on the upcoming ballot after the mandatory 10 percent of students signed a petition.
The referendum, which asks students if they support raising the student activity fee to jumpstart the fund, will be incorporated into the Student Government election ballot March 23 and 24.
When the referendum was rejected in the Senate some concerned senators and students attained over 700 signatures to get it on the ballot. Student Activities later informed Brett Atanasio, senator of the class of 2013 and author of the proposed referendum, that enough signatures were valid to put the referendum on the ballot.
The question “Do you support increasing student fees by $10.00 for one academic year to support the Clean Energy Revolving Fund?” has sparked debate on whether CERF should be funded through donations alone or along with mandatory fees.
Students are taking action to support the referendum. Posters and even some green hard hats have appeared on the campus to raise awareness of the referendum.
“That’s the work of the wonderful people over at EcoSense,” Atanasio said. “It’s really amazing how much energy and effort they are putting in this.”
Multiple Facebook groups supporting both sides of the argument have been created, some without the approval of the Board of Elections, which requires all groups be approved before they are formed.
“It’s been a little bit of a hassle,” Atanasio said. “It is unfortunate not everyone is following election regulations and rules but I think its good that people are at least getting information about the referendum and they know what’s going on.”
Steve Dalton, the senator for the class of 2010 and creator of the “Protect Your Rights, Vote NO” Facebook group, said he thinks funding should not be done through mandatory fees.
“I think CERF is a private organization that should be funded as they have said themselves, through private donations and grants, not through mandatory fees,” he said. “This is the epitome of nickel and diming students.”
Dalton’s Facebook group has almost 100 members as of press time.
“[The group was] started just to give people who want more info the ability to see both sides,” he said. “People can be in support of CERF but against the referendum. They’re not mutually exclusive,” Dalton said.
Students will be able to vote on the referendum when they vote for SG candidates in the upcoming election.
You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
