n I am writing in response to the article “Group pushes $10 green fee” (April 10, p. 1). I would like to clarify the position of the Environmental Student Organization and give a little more context for the “green fee” initiative.

First of all, we’re not asking for a mandatory tuition increase to fund our student group. We are asking students to lead the way in rethinking our institution’s priorities because it’s the responsible thing to do.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about global warming by now. What you may not have considered is that the worst consequences of climate change will fall upon our generation to confront. If you look at the major social movements of the past century — from the Civil Rights Movement to the Vietnam War protests — students have been the catalysts for change. Global warming is the challenge of our generation, and it’s time for us to step up and make a statement about the kind of world we want to inherit.

ESO’s proposal is to create the option of a $10 per semester “green fee” to reduce Boston University’s global warming pollution. The green fee would work the same way the Sports Pass does: it would appear on your student account, but you could choose whether or not to pay. The money generated from the green fee would be used to purchase Renewable Energy Credits, which would offset a percentage of the carbon emissions produced by BU’s energy use.

This initiative is only the first step. Along with energy efficiency improvements, it has the potential to significantly reduce energy costs and global warming emissions, which will help then stabilize tuition and make BU a leader in the climate change movement.

President Brown has shown support for green issues, but students cannot expect the administration to take action unless we make it a priority. We can make this small sacrifice and meet the administration halfway.

You will be seeing me around campus next week along with my fellow ESO members. We’re going to ask you to sign a petition in support of the optional green fee, and when we do, I ask you to remember what’s at stake. If you don’t think this is important enough to make a $10 investment in your future, that’s fine. You don’t have to pay. But please allow those who do find it important to make the investment for all of us.

Michaela Haynes

CAS ’09

Treasurer, Environmental Student Organization