The Undergraduate Senate passed a bill encouraging President Neil Kerwin to sign a national commitment to environmental sustainability at their meeting Sunday.
"A Bill to Support the Presidents Climate Commitment," sponsored by School of Public Affairs Senator Andrew MacCracken, passed by a vote of 17-1-3 at the meeting Sunday.
The commitment measures progress toward environmental sustainability. Colleges and universities must lead their communities by modeling ways to eliminate global warming emissions, according to the Presidents Climate Commitment's Web site.
"If we have on paper that these are things we are doing and we can be held accountable ... it establishes means to measure the progress," McCracken said.
The Presidents Climate Commitment has already been signed by 434 U.S. colleges and universities, according to the Web site.
"We should be requiring him to sign this ... otherwise he can do whatever he wants," Class of 2009 Senator John Cipriani said.
The senate debated, but ultimately voted down, an amendment to the bill "respectfully suggesting" Kerwin sign the commitment by Jan. 31. MacCracken proposed the amendment.
"Currently, Dr. Kerwin has had wishy-washy support [for the commitment], and I believe that there should be some sort of timetable on this," MacCracken said.
The senate also passed "A Resolution to Support the Interfraternity Council" unanimously. The resolution, sponsored by Class of 2011 Senator Nick Troiano, supports the council's refusal of the Office of Greek Life's request to all fraternities and sororities to report any off-campus housing addresses.
The next senate meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 in Kogod 118.
