After days of demonstrations and the combined support of the Student Association and Syracuse University faculty, SU has decided to make the campus a little greener.

University officials announced Thursday a plan to purchase at least 20 percent of SU’s electricity from renewable energy sources by July 1.

‘Twenty percent isn’t going to do it all, but it’s a good start,’ said Waverly deBruijn, a senior in The College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Student Environmental Action Coalition. ‘I’m so excited.’

Students involved in SEAC, the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Green Campus Initiative and the New York Public Interest Group have been advocating a switch to green energy for both campuses since the fall of 2004, through recent demonstrations, efforts to reach out to university faculty and the presentation of a resolution to gain SA’s support for this cause.

‘It’s a combination of steady pressure in the form of educating students, having letters to the editor in The Daily Orange and just working with various individuals within the university,’ deBruijn said.

Green energy would decrease the amount of carbon dioxide emissions the university is responsible for omitting into the air and would eventually make the surrounding environment healthier for students.

Tina Notas, a freshman environmental science major and member of both SEAC and the Green Campus Initiative, said she didn’t think the university could make this decision so quickly.

‘I’m really proud of all the students who were behind this,’ Notas said. ‘All together it was a combined effort that really shows that students care about having an institution that is environmental responsible.’

SA President Travis Mason said SA gave SEAC its full support and tried to help the organization understand the processes and strategies to make their cause a reality.

‘This is an example of what can happen when we all work together,’ Mason said. ‘When you outline the facts and when you have a great team you can accomplish a lot.’

deBruijn also said during the demonstrations on the quads of SU and SUNY-ESF this past week, SEAC acquired over 1,000 signatures for a petition to SU in support of green energy.

Kevin Morrow, director of SU News Services, said SU has continually made strides in energy conservation, such as the environmentally friendly building design of the new Martin J. Whitman School of Management, a partnership with the Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems and the creation of an energy council. And while he said moving to 20 percent renewable energy is an appropriate next step, he recognized the overwhelming student support for this decision.

‘We credit the students for championing this and for encouraging the university to take action to become more involved in renewable energy,’ Morrow said.

Morrow said university officials met with members of SEAC to discuss students’ request for SU to switch to green energy.

‘It was a very good discussion which led to a very good outcome,’ he said.

deBruijn said she felt Chancellor Nancy Cantor had a strong influence on this initiative becoming a reality.

‘Chancellor Cantor has a big influence as head of the institution and as a big supporter of energy conservation,’ Morrow said.

A request for proposals will go out within the next week to energy suppliers and responses are expected back by the first week in May, Morrow said. Then the responses will be reviewed, a contractor will be selected and the changes will be implemented by July 1.

Notas said, while SEAC is in support of utilizing wind power because it has fewer negative aspects than hydropower, she felt the university would most likely end up with hydropower because of its potential with Niagara Mohawk.

Members of SEAC also said while they may have won this battle, they are still fighting the war.

‘We don’t consider ourselves to be done,’ deBruijn said.

Published on April 14, 2005 at 12:00 pm