Green petition seeks 10,000 students to sign

The IU Student Association is trying to make the University more sustainable — one $5 donation at a time. IUSA members will be on campus Thursday to promote the IU Sustainability Fund petition.

The Student Sustainability Council wants to add an optional check box for a green initiative donation of $5 when students register for classes.

“Every location we can be at, we are going to be there,” Ian Kaelble, IUSA chief of sustainability said. “We want to make it possible for students to make a significant difference in sustainability on the IU campus.”

Beginning in mid-October, the petition became available online in addition to the paper format, which began at the start of the fall semester. In order for the check box to appear during online registration, one-fourth of the student body — about 10,000 students — must sign the petition by Dec. 17.

Anyone considered a full-time student with 12 credit hours this semester, either at the undergraduate or graduate level, can sign the petition, said Will McHenry, director of environmentalism for the Residence Hall Association.

By signing the petition, students aren’t committing to donating the $5 to the sustainability fund.

“Signing the petition says that you support giving people the option,” Kaelble said. “It is an easy way to potentially make a huge difference.”

Currently, petition signatures are collected outside Ballantine Hall, Woodburn Hall, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and the Sample Gates.

Requests have been made for a table outside the Landes Dining Room, Wright Food Court, Gresham Food Court, Wells Library, the Student Recreational Sports Center and inside Ballantine Hall, McHenry said.

If the petition receives enough signatures, the funds will be allocated each semester for sustainability-related initiatives on campus, including greater recycling coverage, purchasing motion sensor lighting, installing solar panels and enhancing transportation infrastructure, according to the voting website.

“We want the changes to be things people will actually be able to see,” Kaelble said.
To sign the online petition, go to www.gogreeniu.com.

— Claire Aronson