The Associated Students of the University of Oregon Senate unanimously approved a formal resolution in support of option 4 of the Thermal Systems Transition during its Nov. 29, 2023 meeting. 
The resolution, titled “A Resolution Calling for a Fossil-Free Campus Heating System,” was authored by ASUO Secretary of Sustainability Rachel Withers. The Senate began drafting the resolution during its Nov. 10 meeting as part of a working group.
The resolution calls climate change the “social and political issue of our generation,” and says that a carbon-free campus heating system is a “necessary and worthwhile expense regardless of campus disturbance.”
Option Four, the option endorsed by student groups and now ASUO, is expected to achieve high reductions in emissions and is the most affordable option in the long-term.
The resolution also encourages the university to seek “alternative funding” other than student funds to pay for the transition. This follows criticism regarding the University of Oregon’s statements in which it implied that funds from students would be used to pay for the transition. 
In interviews with the Daily Emerald, climate activist group Climate Justice League expressed concern over potential increases in student tuition because of potential new construction.
At the Fossil Free UO rally on Oct. 24, student Isa Eisenberg spoke to the Emerald about UO’s lack of transparency about the costs of the transition. 
“It would be really nice if the University would provide some information to us, and not keep students so in-the-dark about what costs would be placed on students’ backs,” Eisenberg said.
ASUO Vice President Finn Jacobson will also host two focus groups regarding the Thermal Systems Task Force on Nov. 31 in the Miller room (EMU 107).
Immediately following the resolution, the ASUO Senate also approved a resolution calling for a special election before the end of week six of the winter 2024 term. The voting period will last 48 hours.
The special election will serve to redistribute the ASUO seats on the EMU Board via a ballot measure. The ASUO constitution can only be amended via a student-wide election. If approved, the ballot measure will officially remove all mentions of the EMU Board from the ASUO constitution.
A similar special election resolution was passed earlier in November, calling for a special election by week four of Winter term. 
However, the ASUO Elections Board ruled that the timeline for the election was too short. The new resolution addresses this by containing a section nullifying the previous resolution.