Climate Commitment issue now in the hands of AU provost, president

By Amy Weaver

Published: March 4, 2008

The decision whether Auburn University will join the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment now lies with the provost and president.

The University Senate passed a resolution endorsing the commitment after a heated debate Tuesday afternoon.

According to the effort’s Web site (http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org), it aims “to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.”

Since the resolution was first brought to the senate last month, Rik Blumenthal, associate professor in chemistry and biochemistry, has been adamantly opposed to the issue, primarily because the commitment specifically blames the climate change problem on humans.

Blumenthal doesn’t agree with that notion since it hasn’t been proven. However, he’s not opposed to the principle of addressing climate change or Auburn’s Sustainability Initiative. Otherwise, Blumenthal doesn’t like the idea of Auburn sacrificing its land-grant commitment by spending its resources elsewhere.

He offered an alternative resolution to support the goals of the ACUPCC as it applies to a land-grant university, but without the president’s signatory endorsement. Even though Blumenthal’s idea had some support among the senate membership, it wasn’t enough, and his motion failed.

The senate majority instead agreed with the initial resolution, which served as its endorsement. University Senate Chair Dave Cicci said the matter now goes to the provost and president to decide whether to sign the commitment or not.

According to the effort’s site, 498 colleges and universities across the country have joined so far.

Claire Crutchley, a senator from finance, said Dr. Jay Gogue’s signature would only mean Auburn plans to make a plan to address climate action on campus. Between the Sustainability Initiative, Tiger Transit and RecycleMania, Auburn is already doing much of what ACUPCC asks of its signees, she said.

“We will create our own plan with our own deadlines,” Crutchley said.

And because Auburn is already doing so much, it won’t require a financial commitment as well. Eventually, Crutchley said it could save the university more money if it spends its resources more wisely.
“It would be fiscally irresponsible for Auburn not to sign this,” she said.

The decision to approve two new academic calendars and a new final exam schedule also lies with the provost and president, Cicci said. The senate membership agreed with all three proposals from the Calendars and Schedules Committee. The proposed final exam schedule, which would start this fall, would eliminate Saturday exams.