University Business Magazine, “the leading provider of smart management solutions for higher education administrators at two- and four-year colleges and universities throughout the United States,” published a feature on our university student presidents RE-ENERGYSE letter in their June 2010 issue.  The letter, which was signed by over 100 university student government presidents, was also featured by NYT Dot Earth and Discovery Channel Planet Green.   This from University Business Magazine:

Many college and university presidents have added their signatures to a national commitment to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. Now, a different set of presidents has launched their own sustainability-related campaign of another kind. A group of student body presidents from institutions across the country are urging Congress to support a national program for clean science and engineering education.

Americans for Energy Leadership and the Associated Students of Stanford University have sent Congress a letter with more than 100 student body leader signatures that calls for passage of the RE-ENERGYSE—Regaining our Energy Science and Engineering Edge—program. Proposed last year by President Obama, RE-ENERGYSE would fund energy science and engineering education programs at universities, technical and community colleges, and K-12 schools. It is under consideration as part of the Department of Energy’s 2011 budget request.

Why involve student leaders? Teryn Norris, director and founder of Americans for Energy Leadership and a junior at Stanford, says it was appropriate for them to have a voice in the matter. He stresses that federal investment in energy STEM education is essential to the U.S. economy and national security, and that our country is falling behind in the global clean energy industry.

“The benefits of this program for students and the country are so clear that most of these presidents signed on quickly after an e-mail or a phone call and offered to do as much as possible to generate support,” he says.

Top-level administrators have formally expressed their support, as well. Last July, a similar letter to Congress on RE-ENERGYSE received the backing of 100 universities, professional associations, and student groups. “The program could directly benefit their schools and …they understand this is an important national priority,” notes Norris.