The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)

A recent focus group provided suggestions on how to make Ole Miss a greener and more efficient campus. The Ole Miss Green Initiative Fund aims to raise money for the improvement of efficiency in all dorms and buildings on campus. This fund seeks to renovate buildings on campus to more green and LEED certified.

Four male students were interested in making improvements in the buildings on campus. They all felt that efficiency could be improved in all of the buildings especially in the dorms.

This program is in development and will be operating through the Office of Facilities Planning. Two buildings are under construction: the new Law School and the Center for Manufacturing Excellence.

TGIF has asked that every student give a certain dollar amount for each credit hour that they take each semester. The amount started at $.50 and then the Ole Miss ASB raised it to $3.00. When the dollar amount per credit hour was raised the initiative did not pass.

Those at the TGIF focus group were male students, all of which are interested in making improvements in the buildings on campus. They all felt that efficiency could be improved in all of the buildings especially in the dorms.

Everyone contributed ideas about how to improve on campus recycling and efficiency.

“Trash disposal would be a big thing. There was only one option. There wasn’t much of an opportunity to recycle,” said student Matthew Archer about the recycling situation in the dorms.

TGIF is geared toward improving energy conservation. The focus group recommended mandating Energy Star appliances on all dorm floors, motion sensor lights, and automatic sinks and hand dryers.

“Work with the university to find some type of product that is either number 1 or 2 plastics. If they are going to make a commitment to be more efficient on game days that is going to have to change,” said, senior Public Policy major Elliot Warren.

Along with improvement in building efficiency, TGIF also plans to improve the bike share program Rebel Pedals, which provided students with affordable and environmentally friendly transportation. Increased access to bikes provides an alternative to driving and may promote and a culture of sustainability on campus.

The focus group participants also had many ideas for ways to advance the bike share program and campus transportation in general. Ideas included clarifying the bus routes, allowing students to keep bikes longer and provide access to different check out locations. Another suggestion was to have a bike share program for the dorms.

"You keep it for as long as you need it,” said junior, Jason Thomas as an idea for improving Rebel Pedals.

TGIF is making improvements in building efficiency and Rebel Pedals, but through student fees for each credit hour they could do a lot more. Many improvements still must be made to make the University of Mississippi a greener campus.