WSA Resolution

YAY! On Sunday night, the WSA passed an EON-backed resolution on sustainability at Wes. I'm making the font kindof tiny because it's long. Don't let that deter you from reading it!

Resolution on Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship At Wesleyan
Co-sponsored by Julien Burns ’10, Allison Quantz ’10, and Izaak Orlansky ‘08
I.
WHEREAS climate change is one of the foremost crises facing our generation;
WHEREAS in Wesleyan’s most recent strategic plan, “environmental stewardship” is one of the stated goals in being a socially responsible institution;
WHEREAS Wesleyan’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, unanimously recommended that President Roth sign the American College & University President Climate Commitment; and
WHEREAS the Commitment (available at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org) presents a concrete but flexible approach towards achieving climate neutrality, and has been signed by 415 other presidents of American colleges and universities;
THEREFORE be it resolved that the Wesleyan Student Assembly urges President Roth to sign the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment as an indication of Wesleyan’s dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.
II.
AND WHEREAS the Community Climate Commitment represents an individual pledge to complement the institutional character of the President’s Climate Committee; and
WHEREAS the Community Climate Commitment represents an effort to engage students, faculty, and staff in taking personal responsibility for their role in averting harmful climate change;
THEREFORE be it further resolved that the Wesleyan Student Assembly urges students to sign the Wesleyan Community Climate Commitment to take personal responsibility for environmental stewardship on campus.
III.
AND WHEREAS WSA members have seats on several committees in which sustainable practices should be considered either directly or indirectly in decision-making; among others, the Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Molecular & Life Sciences Building Committee, and the Dining Committee;
WHEREAS the Student Budget Committee allocates funds to student groups for activities and resources in which the environment is impacted either directly or indirectly (e.g. recycling/preserving event materials, funding environmental initiatives on campus); and
WHEREAS the WSA Office purchases and maintains resources in which the environment is impacted either directly or indirectly (e.g. office materials for student workers and student groups, energy usage in the WSA office and 190 High);
THEREFORE be it further resolved that the Wesleyan Student Assembly calls upon all members to find creative ways to make sustainability a part of their decision-making and policies as an affirmation of the WSA’s commitment to environmental stewardship as an organization, and expect a report from the Organization and External Affairs Committee by year’s end summarizing these ways.