Submission: TGIF funds support student innovation, sustainability for UCLA

The Daily Bruin published an opinion column­ regarding the efforts by the USAC Facilities commission to implement an expansion of the solar-powered umbrella charging project. While we appreciate the attention given to the project and take into consideration the concerns outlined, we believe that the article exhibits a misunderstanding of not only The Green Initiative Fund, but of sustainability initiatives on campus in general, leading to an unfortunate misrepresentation of this project.

The article argues that since the project does not immediately generate profits, it is therefore unworthy of receiving funds from TGIF. This logic, however, does not take into account the premise of TGIF, which is to ignite the innovative potential of UCLA students to formulate and implement “projects that reduce UCLA’s negative impact on the environment” – not to necessarily generate profits. Furthermore, this logic neglects what can be clearly surmised in economic terms: The negative externalities of unsustainable practices at UCLA may very well outweigh the costs of innovation that the author of the article in reference seems so disturbed by.

TGIF funds student innovation, knowing full well that returns on investment are not necessarily immediate or immediately clear to an observer with little background in sustainability. In addition, many of the projects funded by TGIF are targeted in nature, meant to respond to specific student concerns, such as lack of charging stations in public spaces. While there may be no apparent need today, with a rising student population, competition for charging ports will only increase. While we as a commission are constantly working with the university administration to take on larger-scale projects, TGIF provides us an opportunity to make targeted, specific investments to better the student experience without requiring the use of partnership funds.

Indeed, UCLA is behind on both its Zero Waste and Water Action plans and the university needs to be held accountable to follow through on them. If follow-through is to be had, then innovation like this is necessary. Projects carried out through TGIF provide a means by which students can disseminate their views to powerful stakeholders in the university through concrete action, in essence engaging students in advocacy through innovation; indeed, these projects send a powerful message to our university that sustainability matters to students and that anything short of what was promised is unacceptable.

While we believe that the cost of innovation is one worth bearing, given the long-term benefits mentioned above, we have nonetheless put forward efforts to minimize those costs – efforts that we believe were neglected by the Daily Bruin column. We have critically analyzed this project so as to simplify its mechanisms while maintaining its utility, allowing us to bring our per-umbrella cost down from anywhere between $8,000 and $10,000 to $2,075. In addition, upon further review, we have decided to place all of the umbrella’s in the high-traffic space that is Kerckhoff patio while nonetheless maintaining our commitment to promoting the John Wooden Center second floor balcony as a dynamic and useful space for students to use in the future.

Lofty goals have been made by our university to enact tangible changes to how we implement sustainable practices in our day-to-day functions. If we say no to new technology because of the cost of innovation, if we neglect the negative externalities that acquiescing to those costs will force us to endure, then we will not inspire our students and our faculty to apply their force of intellect to future projects and we will not enact the culture of sustainability that is necessary to ensure that the university’s goals are seen to completion.

For more information on UCLA’s sustainability initiatives please visit www.sustain.ucla.edu/our-initiatives, and for more information about TGIF please visit tgif.ucla.edu.

Let USAC Facilities Commission know what you’re thinking. Email [email protected] for questions, concerns or comments.

Rhee is the 2016-2017 USAC Facilities commissioner.