Many students might resemble Dan Jacoby’s attitude on being environmentally conscious. While Jacoby cares about the environment, he has never been proactive.

Now, that is about to change for the junior who is looking to get other students involved in an environmental endeavor.

Jacoby is part of the Student Green Fee Committee; a group that will soon be making decisions on what entities throughout campus can be funded for ‘greener’ practices.

‘By being a member of the committee, I see this as an opportunity to make a difference on campus,’ Jacoby said.

Starting next semester, students will have the option to pay an extra $5 in fees added to their tuition. This is set up much like the optional legal fee provided by the University. The difference is that this fee will go toward making the campus greener.

The total amount gathered from the students willing to pay this fee will serve as the fund for this green committee.

The committee will then decide what sustainable efforts should be supported by this fund.

Jacoby said he’s optimistic on how students will embrace this fee.

‘I expect this will be fairly successful,’ he said. ‘Last year, we did a consensus and the results showed that 80 percent would approve this fee. Conservatively, through last year’s numbers, we’re estimating around $66,000 to start the fund.’

Gary Silverman, chair of the department of environment and sustainability, is one of two of the advisors for the Student Green Fee Committee.

Silverman said he is anticipating a lot of student support, including the approval of the fee from the Undergraduate Student Government.

‘I think many realize a sustainable campus and a sustainable world is a good thing,’ he said. ‘It’s a chance for the students to show themselves and the University in a positive light.’

Silverman said he expects student cooperation for several reasons.

‘This is a student-driven committee. It’s going to be funded by the students, and proposals from students will eventually be accepted by the committee as well,’ he said.

Someone that is not so sure students will widely accept this fee is senior Dan Stein.

‘I don’t think many students will just gladly hand over an extra $5 to the University,’ he said. ‘Many already have so many of their expenses going to the University as it is.’

Even though he believes the rest of the student body will have a hard time accepting the fee, Stein said he would be willing to pay the fee himself.

‘I think I would pay the fee because I’m in business construction and I see a lot of green projects being implemented and I know that over time, that saves energy and money,’ he said.

For students that may be debating whether or not to pay the $5, Silverman said he ensures the green fee will benefit everyone on campus.

‘This committee is a good thing,’ he said. ‘It’s definitely going to make our campus meaner and greener.”