Part of the experience of college is fighting for social causes and embracing new ideas. Student activists are everywhere on this campus.

They can be found marching, petitioning or protesting virtually daily at Sacramento State.

Nearly every student who has walked through the library quad has been asked the question, “Do you have a minute for the environment?”

The student activists belonging to the group Environment California are passionate about their cause. They should be applauded for their diligence.

Their simple request for a moment of students’ time is often greeted with disdain and stern rebukes.

Any reporter can respect the determination and diligence it takes to continually put oneself into a situation where people treat you like a pile of animal waste.

Students concerned about the environment taking time out of their day to raise awareness about social issues that deeply concern them, they should be commended and respected.

However, those students that want to participate in the cleanup and protection of the environment need to signup on the spot and commit to a minimum monthly fee of $10.

That means handing over your credit card number or personal finance information to someone you just met in passing.

When a cash-strapped student is trying to make it to class on time, the last thing they need to be is harassed for only wanting to hand over an e-mail address and possibly a signature.

Most of the student activists belonging to Environment California are courteous and respectful, but others let their passions and emotions get the best of them.

It is understandable that the members of Environment California are excited about their cause, but they need to be respectful to Sac State students’ right to cross the quad without being harassed.

We all want to help, but $120 a year is a little steep. Environment California makes its financial statements available on its website, but the contributions that students make are not tax deductible.

If the donations that students make were tax deductible, more students would probably feel less apprehensive about contributing.

It is safe to say that most Americans with common sense see that there is a problem with the environment and want to help. No one wants to live in a world with polluted water, clear-cut forests and brown air.

Environment California advocates research for renewable energy sources. The group fights against powerful special-interest groups such as logging and mining in order to assure that California’s pristine environment is not obliterated.

But is giving cash the only way to help?

Volunteers should be able to write letters, make phone calls or participate in rallies, instead of handing over money.

The activists could spend some of their time in the quad endorsing politicians who are sympathetic to the cause or getting signatures for ballot initiatives.

Cash is king, but there is something to be said for clogging the e-mail inboxes of politicians and corporations that are destroying the planet.

The people who want to donate money to the cause are going to write checks. We all want to help. Giving money should not be the deciding factor on whether or not students care about the condition of the planet.

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