The 6-year-old Student Greenhouse Project received support from ASMSU's Student Assembly on Thursday night after representatives realized their constituents agreed with the plan for a biodome on north campus.
Assembly members debated the bill heavily, pointing out that it could contradict a year-old plan passed by ASMSU's Academic Assembly that outlines a brick amphitheater in the same location, south of the Old Horticulture Building.
Academic Assembly had been working on the amphitheater, deemed the Outdoor Learning Space, since late 2001.
Several surveys of students and alumni presented by the project showed that almost 90 percent liked the greenhouse, a tropical environment with a performance area.
"People will laugh at us because our weight will not be behind one bill," said College of Engineering Student Assembly Representative Matt Warpinski, who added he did not believe the project's surveys. "We need to speak with one voice so when something really important comes up, we can be heard."
This is not the first time ASMSU's Student Assembly has approved the student greenhouse.
In 1998, the assembly pledged $200,000 for the greenhouse, but the pledge expired in late 2002.
A 2000 bill supported the university's 2020 Vision plan, which includes a greenhouse.
Neither of the bills on the greenhouse and the amphitheater explicitly states where on campus the structures could be built, but the field by Old Horticulture Building is the only large open area.
To deal with differing views on what could be built on the site, some Student Assembly representatives considered approving the project without stating the greenhouse would be built on north campus.
Some suggested incorporating the plan with other gardens and greenhouses on south campus, but the suggestion was rejected.
"If you're looking to create a quiet learning environment, next to the railroad tracks is not the best location," said Matt Rupp, Alliance of Lesbian, Bi, Gay and Transgender Students representative.
Academic Assembly Internal Vice Chair Tom Morse warned representatives that regardless of how they voted, the bill should have been changed in order to ensure work on the greenhouse continues to move forward.
"This is your only chance to fight the administration on this," he said. "Amend it to say you're going to make this happen. If not, it's a frivolous bill."
The bill passed, unamended, to the applause of the 30 Student Greenhouse Project members in the room.
Dylan Boyle, co-chairman of the project, said the next step in getting the project approved is to meet with the Campus Infrastructure Planning Work Group.
Their plans also were submitted to Provost Lou Anna Simon and Fred Poston, vice president of finance and operations.
"We now officially have support of all the students that ASMSU represents," Boyle said. "We'll continue to approach administrators and follow the necessary steps."
For more information on the Student Greenhouse Project, visit www.greenhouse2001.msu.edu.
