News in Brief
Bear's Lair Restaurants To Go Green

The ASUC Senate passed a bill Wednesday night which will provide for the Bear's Lair restaurants to undergo green-certification within three years.

The bill will bring student group Bay-area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network and Bear's Lair restaurants together to make the necessary changes for certification.

"I'm pleased that the ASUC Senate has taken a stance that supports environmental sustainability on this campus," said CalSERVE Senator Rebecca Coleman, who sponsored the bill. "It's a step in the right direction."

Connie Zheng, a network member and co-author of the bill, said the group's implementation team will direct Bear's Lair restaurants through the certification process.

While certification itself is free, fulfilling some of the requirements may cause the restaurants to incur costs, which the network plans to offset by fundraising and securing grants from the university, Zheng said.

Aaron Mitchell, a daytime bartender at the Bear's Lair Brewpub, said he is in support of the bill as well as any other steps towards environmental sustainability taken by the pub.

"I think the city of Berkeley is taking the first step in going green, and if we could follow, I think that's the way to go," Mitchell said.

According to Mitchell, the pub already strives to meet green standards. Its policies include recycling all glass, using only fluorescent lights and abstaining from electric heating.

Haitham Alloun, owner of The Coffee Spot, said that his businesses are also already doing their best to comply with green standards and would welcome certification.

"I think (the bill) is an excellent idea," Alloun said. "I have no problem going 100 percent green."

Tags: ASUC, GREEN CERTIFICATION,