ASUO President Nilda Brooklyn and Vice President Joy Nair have succeeded in reaching one of their campaign goals by successfully having the energy fee lowered to $20 per student per term, down $10 from a fall projection by the administration.
They persuaded Provost John Moseley to cut the controversial fee by one-third, mainly because of successful conservation efforts by students — a campaign that was largely promoted by the ASUO.
The advertising campaign promoting conservation was well-received, although most of the ASUO-sponsored events publicizing energy preservation were not popular among students. Open forums to discuss the fee and the ASUO’s efforts to have it removed were not well attended, and a conservation dance in the EMU Ballroom was canceled at the end of fall term.
But in the face of drooping student enthusiasm, Brooklyn and Nair achieved a specific, tangible goal, a feat too few previous executives have accomplished. During each election, candidates propose broad, ambiguous reforms, such as “improved diversity,” “increased safety” and “better lighting.” This year’s pair are guilty of nebulous campaign promises as well; however, the measurable success of the lowered energy fee should be lauded.
The executives are finally doing something positive that students can see both on tuition bills and in their wallets. Brooklyn and Nair have done an excellent job of setting a goal and accomplishing it despite resounding apathy among their constituents.
They have also created a working relationship with Moseley instead of pitting students against the University. Now that the provost has been convinced students are committed to lowering overall energy consumption on campus, the possibility of lowering or even eliminating the energy fee in the future is conceivable.
The ASUO’s campaign to conserve energy has worked well enough to lower the fee. But Brooklyn and Nair need to continue to make similar progress and make good on their original promise to completely eliminate the fee. If students continue to take energy-saving cues from the ASUO’s campaign, their work will be that much easier.