After hours of debate, student government voted down legislation Wednesday to create a grassroots committee devoted to student-driven advocacy and organizing on environmental sustainability issues.
The Sustainability Committee would have functioned similarly to the four current grassroots committees housed under the Associated Students of Madison by campaigning for students on sustainability issues.
Student Council members had reservations over increasing student segregated fees to create the committee, as well as concerns that creating the committee could lead to a slippery slope in which representatives would propose committees to address every student issue.
According to ASM Chair Andrew Bulovsky, members also worried the committee’s work would duplicate services already performed by many environmentally conscious student organizations on campus.
“Some members were afraid this was already taking place on campus and that this would be double dipping with organizations and hampering what other groups are trying to work on,” Bulovsky said.
The legislation would have required a two-thirds vote of approval at two council meetings to create the committee. In voting down the legislation, council has now tabled the legislation indefinitely.
Bulovsky said students interested in sustainability can still get involved in other ways through student government.
“[Students] can come to ASM and get involved in any committee and work on sustainability and we’re going to work on a shared governance committee for sustainability so there’s still a lot of options to get involved,” Bulovsky said.
