Resolution:
05031015
Author(s):
Aziz Akbari, Residential Senator
Shawn Rhoads, ESA Executive Director
Sponsoring Senator: Aziz Akbari, Residential Senator
Date:
March 10th, 2015
RE:
Campus-wide Community Gardens Initiative
WHEREAS, USC students are concerned with sustainability efforts of our campus;
WHEREAS, 91% of student respondents said they would support an initiative to create
more greenspace (e.g. gardens and native plants) on campus and 87% of respondents said
they would participate in the maintenance of community gardens;
WHEREAS, there are many environmental organizations and a student assembly at USC
that campaign for the cultivation of native plants, food, and gardening on campus;
WHEREAS, a community garden will be defined as a space in a residential community that
is specifically designated for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables and is used as an
educational tool for those who live in the area;
WHEREAS, there are many students at USC that lack access to community gardens, which
exist at most of the other major universities in California (Stanford, Cal Tech, UCLA, UC
Davis, UCI, UC Berkley),
WHEREAS, students at the aforementioned universities can apply to for money to conduct
various green projects including environmental education outreach, sustainability
programs, and research;
WHEREAS, USC currently has an off-campus Urban Garden located at 3115 Shrine Place
where students can volunteer;
WHEREAS, Parkside residents, Parkside Faculty Masters, USC Housing, USC Hospitality, and
the Environmental Student Assembly will be inaugurating the first on-campus community
garden at USC in April;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Parkside Community Garden will serve as an initial
test to see if community gardens can be rolled out in on- and off-campus housing
communities;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the University of Southern California administration and
the Environmental Student Assembly will work together towards the success of the
community gardens initiative;
BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED, that this resolution will not expire this year, and will be
carried over to the 2015-2016 school year.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be delivered to USC President C.L. Max
Nikias, Vice Provost of Student Affairs Ainsley Carry, Assistant Provost for Student
Engagement Monique Allard, USC Housing Director Keenan Cheung, USC Director of
Residential Education Christina Davis, and USG President Andrew Menard by Secretary
Isabelle Albert within 2 weeks of being passed by the Undergraduate Student Government
Senate.