One theme dominated the final Student Government Association meeting of the 57th general assembly on Thursday - student voice.
Over 30 representatives of the Environmental Action Club and Tennessee Legislature Democratic Rep. G.A. Hardaway joined senators and challenged them to raise their voices on student issues.
"It's absolutely remarkable that those who are most impacted, aren't concerned," Hardaway said Thursday referring to the lack of student presence on Capitol Hill in Nashville.
After senators passed a bill adding $10 to student fees to pay for green energy, Hardaway asked for suggestions on tackling the "abysmal" retention rate of the Hope Scholarship.
The Environmental Initiatives Fee passed during the SGA elections with 69 percent of the vote, but the proposition did not ask students how much they wanted to pay for green energy.
EAC students hoped to have a $20 per semester fee tacked on the bill and said they had 2,520 signatures on a petition supporting a $20 fee for green energy, but senators struck that down.
After supporting the bill since EAC brought their concerns before SGA, Kenneth Taylor, voted the most dedicated senator, proposed an amendment to take the recommendation down to $10.
"My amendment was not an indication to say I did not support the environmental action club," Taylor said. "One of my duties as a senator is to see things beyond the surface value."
Dean of Students William Porter provided students with drafts of green fee guidelines from the Tennessee Board of Regents and a sample of green fees from other Tennessee colleges and universities.
Taylor said one of the reasons he amended the fee to $10 is because the first line of the TBR's guidelines draft says, "The initial fee request should not exceed $10 per student per semester."
"That is the reason why I set the amount at $10," Taylor said. "(EAC) had the 2,500 signed petitions, but we as an SGA had no idea how many people rejected that."
Jessica Gibbons, recently voted senator of the year, brought the bill before SGA and told senators they should make their fee recommendation on what students want, not what TBR wants.
In March, Gibbons had the back window of her car broken out and received an anonymous note that said "f-- you and your green group," according to a police report.
Gibbons was unable to be contacted Tuesday.
If the bill had passed with the $20 fee, the payment for green energy at The U of M would have been twice what other students pay for similar initiatives at other Tennessee colleges and universities.
Gibbons said the EAC came up with the specific $20 by surveying nearly 450 students and asking how much they were willing to pay for green energy.
At the meeting, members of EAC compared the SGA to a republic deciding what they think is best for the people, rather than listening to them.
Taylor said he disagrees.
"I think the Environmental Action Club was definitely heard," Taylor said. "The Environmental Action Club disrespected the senate several times ... but I applaud the senate in putting those issue aside and doing what's best for the students."
