UNC Charlotte's Earth Club had been waiting on this day all year. John Avery, president of Earth club had been nervously anticipating last Thursday's Student Meeting for over a month, but he's not alone. He's gathered over 20 like-minded students with him as he faces this first obstacle in getting his referendum passed.

"We've spent at least the greater part of this semester and much of the fall semester working on this project," Avery said. The project is to create a Green Fee that would be added to current Student Fees to help make UNCC more energy efficient. If passed, students would have a voting option in the fall of 2007 semester elections to see how much they would be willing to pay for such an endeavor.

About a month ago, Avery sat down with Student Senators, Lance Wolfson and Mary Beth Usher to write UNCC's first ever Green Fee referendum. This referendum is meant to draw Student Senators attention to what Earth Club would consider wasteful energy consumption by UNCC.

The referendum states, "UNCC consumes 99 million kilowatt hours annually and exhausts $9,014,872.37 in total utilities each year."

Currently, UNCC has no form of renewable energy and no way to create it on-site. Earth Club with help from Facilities Management and UNCC administration hopes to change that.

"Ultimately, the potential money will fund projects and renovations to make our campus more energy-efficient and sustainable, as well as purchasing clean energy for the campus," Avery said. "We feel that education at our university should be all-encompassing, meaning that we should not only be able to learn inside of the buildings, but from the buildings as well."

After little debate the referendum passed Senate in a landslide. No Senators dissented to allow this measure to go forward.

Avery and Earth club were ecstatic. Having been helped through by many other organizations and groups, Avery had many phone calls to make that night. "Everyone in Earth Club has had a hand in this initiative … We have definitely spent long hours on this initiative, and this is a victory in which everyone can share," he said. "We've also had help from people outside of Earth Club, like UNCC-SDS, Sigma Kappa, UNCC NP-PA, College Democrats, and AIAS, as well as Emerging Green Builders."

Both remaining Student Body President candidates are Senators and both discussed how this fee could help them reach their goals next year as well.

Presidential Candidate, Justin Ritchie said that he was in favorable of the referendum because the fee could be used for some of his own energy saving ideas. "It's important for the sustainability issue that we can reduce our power consumption," he said. "One of the big things on that is to get the first floor lights of the Atkins Library changed to LED lights. They save power and shine brighter."

Matt Lawing another presidential hopeful said that he cares deeply for campus beautification and his record of coordinating stream clean-ups and other such events prove that.

"I care about making UNCC a spearhead in the Green movement," he said. "I feel this fee is something that needs to happen for a lot of good things to occur on this campus."

But even though the referendum passed that doesn't mean the Earth Club can sit back and celebrate. "Earth Day" is April 22 and the Earth Club has something special planned.

Working with The Charlotte Jam Band Society and the Philosopher's Stone Tavern, Earth Club and the Sigma Kappa Sorority are offering the Charlotte community a free concert.

The Philosopher's Stone Tavern, located on 1958 E. 7th St. will host the concert featuring the bands Dead End Parking and Stumble.

"The Philosopher's Stone is huge on environmental issues," said Tavern Owner, Josh Settle. "We've held meetings the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. to talk about issues and how we can make a difference."

The UNCC Earth Club will have a booth set up on the patio where the event will take place. Avery had this to say, "We're hoping that this will not only serve as an opportunity to represent our club, but a chance to represent our school by showing how UNC-Charlotte students positively impact the growth of the environmental movement in the Greater Charlotte community."

If you would like to get involved with Earth Club you may contact John Avery at Earth@email.uncc.edu. For more information on Sunday's concert or the monthly meetings you may call the Philospher's Stone at (704) 350-1331.