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In the dead of winter, more than 50 University of Cincinnati students felt that it was time to re-energize campus.

UC Beyond Coal members kicked off the quarter with “Re-Energize UC” Thursday in the Lindner Center.

Supporters included Student Government President Alan Hagerty and Cincinnati City Council member Laure Quinlivan.

Quinlivan spoke about her excitement at seeing so many students interested in campus sustainability, and praised the continued success in moving towards clean energy.

“Local measures like the Green Cincinnati Plan and the Enhanced Recycling Program are helping to move our city toward sustainability,” Quinlivan said. “The Beyond Coal campaign is greatly contributing to this progress, both locally and nationally, and I am thankful for the passion and activism displayed by all students involved in the campaign.”

Hagerty also spoke about the importance of campus sustainability and the “green-revolving loan plan” that could make sustainability projects on campus more affordable, he said.

“Alan and I are just excited to share our cost-saving strategy when we have the opportunity to meet with him in just a few weeks,” said Brian Kunkemoeller, a fourth-year environmental studies and biology student. “It is a combination of the best practices from the greenest schools in America, according to the Princeton Review.”

If implemented, the plan could make UC a contender with Harvard as the greenest school in America by 2019, said to Kunkemoeller, who is also the UC Sustainability co-director.

The plan consists of what Kunkemoeller calls “the triple bottom line” of sustainability — reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact, and being more socially responsible through creating cleaner air and healthier citizens in the community.

Campaign leaders each recorded a video message asking UC President Greg Williams to stand with Beyond Coal. The campaign continues to gather petition signatures in preparation for the meeting with the administration.

UC Beyond Coal’s members said their next step will occur next month when they meet with Williams to discuss their cause next month.