Concordia Journal Home > Archives > November 22, 2007 issue >

Student 1% campaign invests in green 

By Karen Herland

Students confirmed their commitment to a greener campus last March when they voted to donate 25 cents per credit to the 1% campaign. In its first year, the campaign raised $150,000.

The Hall Building greenhouse was the first beneficiary at this early stage of budget allocation. A request for funding towards a full-time coordinator to oversee volunteers and ensure continuity was approved.

The announcement was made after the selection committee of the new 1% campaign board met on Nov. 15 to deliberate on the seven proposals presented to students and stakeholders at an open meeting on Nov. 4.

The greenhouse coordinator position was one of four projects approved at this point. Funds also went towards the annual sustainable Business Conference, and the R4 composting facility at Loyola that is co-sponsored by the provincial government. A small amount of money was earmarked for a tour of environmental speakers to promote the 1% campaign on other campuses.

A handful of projects, primarily proposed by the CSU were asked to reapply with more information. The next deadline for projects is Feb. 15.

Since the summer, project co-developer and current coordinator Mohamed Shuriye has been developing the bylaws and financial policies for the not-for-profit corporation. He has been working out of offices supplied by Sustainable Concordia.

He approached potential board members and was able to have the new board adopt the bylaws in September. The seven-student board includes representatives from each of the four faculties, a representative from Sustainable Concordia, and two members from the Concordia Student Union.

In its inaugural year, the 1% campaign raised $150,000. Of that, $66,000 was available for student-initiated/proposed projects, with half of that amount spoken for in this round of decision-making.

Just under $30,000 went for salaries and expenses. Almost $42,000 is earmarked for ongoing projects, surveys, communications and similar expenses. The rest of the budget is contingency money to cushion the transition to next year.

Shuriye would like to see greater participation in the process. He’ll be developing a communications strategy for that.