Following a nationwide trend to "go green," this year's senior class gift will help make GW a more environmentally friendly campus.
For its parting present, the Class of 2007 created the Campus Green Fund, an endowment that will fund projects to bring more greenery to campus, making it more environmentally friendly for current and future generations.
"There has been a big trend towards endowments," said Katie Lux, the senior gift coordinator. "Because you give back more to the University this way and because of the longevity of it. Because (this year's gift) is an endowment, it will last the University forever."
Lux and the Senior Gift Coordinating Committee specified that the money should be used mostly for lowering the University's energy needs. Several proposed solutions are installing more energy-efficient light bulbs and showerheads in residence halls, adding motion detectors around campus to reduce the use of electric lighting and putting recycling bins in each dorm room.
Though an environmental endowment was proposed last year, the Class of 2006 ultimately decided against it. The idea resurfaced this year and was chosen overwhelmingly out of three other proposals.
"Our gift was voted on about early August, and then this year has become sort of 'green madness,'" said senior Ariz Matute, events chair for the senior class gift.
The Senior Class Gift Committee is selected each year by the gift coordinator and is intended to represent a wide variety of graduating students. The committee then selects a gift idea after a vote via e-mail by the entire senior class, and subsequently starts raising money to fund the gift.
This year, the committee raised more than $38,000 from seniors and parents, all of which will be redistributed to GW in annual increments of $2,000, Lux said.
"I don't know much about it, but I think it's great," said senior Kirk Haldeman, a former Student Association senator.
Some seniors said they opposed the idea of giving any senior gift, after four years of paying tuition and various University fees.
For its parting present, the Class of 2007 created the Campus Green Fund, an endowment that will fund projects to bring more greenery to campus, making it more environmentally friendly for current and future generations.
"There has been a big trend towards endowments," said Katie Lux, the senior gift coordinator. "Because you give back more to the University this way and because of the longevity of it. Because (this year's gift) is an endowment, it will last the University forever."
Lux and the Senior Gift Coordinating Committee specified that the money should be used mostly for lowering the University's energy needs. Several proposed solutions are installing more energy-efficient light bulbs and showerheads in residence halls, adding motion detectors around campus to reduce the use of electric lighting and putting recycling bins in each dorm room.
Though an environmental endowment was proposed last year, the Class of 2006 ultimately decided against it. The idea resurfaced this year and was chosen overwhelmingly out of three other proposals.
"Our gift was voted on about early August, and then this year has become sort of 'green madness,'" said senior Ariz Matute, events chair for the senior class gift.
The Senior Class Gift Committee is selected each year by the gift coordinator and is intended to represent a wide variety of graduating students. The committee then selects a gift idea after a vote via e-mail by the entire senior class, and subsequently starts raising money to fund the gift.
This year, the committee raised more than $38,000 from seniors and parents, all of which will be redistributed to GW in annual increments of $2,000, Lux said.
"I don't know much about it, but I think it's great," said senior Kirk Haldeman, a former Student Association senator.
Some seniors said they opposed the idea of giving any senior gift, after four years of paying tuition and various University fees.
