Created by the USF Sustainable and Ethical Practices Coalition made up of: Student Environmental Association, Botany Club, Students for Socialism, SPEAK, GLOBE, GenCLEO, Marine Biology Club, JGHC Community Garden, Agrarian Club, Entomology Society, USF PIRG, Botanical Gardens Club
Why this petition matters:
In 2010, USF created its Climate Action Plan which committed the school to a path of sustainability. They have been failing at that plan for the last decade and more, including, but not limited to a failure to upkeep an Office of Sustainability which would oversee and direct sustainability efforts across campus.
Right now, USF relies on the Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF), which is funded by student tuition, to improve their public image in terms of sustainability. The projects funded by the SGEF are conducted by students, and include installation of LEDs, electric buses, and recycling bins around campus. While these projects are helpful, we need large scale change to make an impact on our local and global climate, in the form of divestment from fossil fuels, decreasing carbon footprint through increasing plant-based options on campus, and decreasing student housing prices in order to lessen the impact of commuter emissions.
An Office of Sustainability at USF is necessary to create a dedicated department committed to sustainability across the three campuses. It would provide institutional support to adequately approach the grave danger of climate change, direct immense energy and resources towards promoting our campus' long term sustainability, and create a more green USF.
