Students have met with Weinberg professors and administrators and finally see a light at the end of tunnel for an environmental studies program — about a year and a half after Associated Student Government passed legislation to lobby for the program’s creation.

ASG Academic Vice President Tamara Kagel said the university could begin offering a minor as soon as the 2003-04 academic year, because it will not create an economic burden on the administration.

“This isn’t an issue where we are asking for more funds,” said Kagel, a Communication junior. “It’s a readjustment of program definition — because the classes already exist.”

The proposed program would attract a different type of student than the environmental sciences program offered by the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Kagel said.

“The environmental sciences major is more involved in the scientific aspect of the environment,” she said. “(Environmental studies) would be more humanities-based.”

Former ASG Sen. Lisa Zelljadt authored the legislation that passed in April 2001. She said she was inspired to write the bill because when she came to Northwestern, she wanted to study the environment but was not interested in the “hard science” classes environmental studies majors have to take, such as biology and organic chemistry.

“There are many students who really care about the environment and environmental issues, but from a policy perspective,” said Zelljadt, a Weinberg senior and executive board member for Students for Ecological and Environmental Development.

Administrators told Zelljadt early Fall Quarter that the program could not be considered by the college without a faculty initiative, she said. In response she contacted the environmental sciences department and professors who teach environmental policy classes. She successfully convinced seven professors to meet with her, and even more expressed support.

Zelljadt met Wednesday with Weinberg Assistant Dean Mary Finn and Associate Dean Craig Bina, who said they would take her proposal to Dean Daniel Linzer for approval.

“They have to consult with Dean Linzer, and he is going to make a decision,” Zelljadt said. If Linzer approves it, “a faculty committee has to be created to figure out what kind of structure this program would have.”

The environmental sciences committee also could take on the project, she said.

Similar programs exist at many peer universities, including most Ivy League schools, Zelljadt said.

After her efforts failed to develop in her sophomore year and a Weinberg task force ran into complications last year, Zelljadt decided to take up the issue again this fall.

She said encountered many new students interested in her vision of environmental study, including SEED sophomores Lauren Grogh and Dan McDonald, who will take over the initiative next year when Zelljadt leaves NU.

Zelljadt said she hopes to see environmental studies eventually develop into its own major, but first interested students will have to step up and prove their interest to the administration.

“(The administration is) not going to dedicate any resources to this until they know students will enroll,” she said.