MASSPIRG at Berkshire Community College
Over the course of this fall our agenda was packed with public
interest campaigns. We're proud of our victories, but more than that,
we're as energized and determined as we've ever been to take on serious
problems, to push for common sense solutions, and to work with you, our
supporters, friends, and allies, toward positive change.
Here are a few of our accomplishments from this fall. See you in the spring!
Campus Climate Challenge: The
Campus Climate Challenge was in full swing at BCC this semester. BCC
MASSPIRG students Peter Loboda, Lilly Phillips, Max Rivinus, and Lance
Spratling held educational events on campus ranging from movie
screenings of “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Who Killed the Electric Car”
to a Solar Cocoa Event to raise awareness and collect over 200
petitions urging Senator Downing to support the Global Warming
Solutions Act and cut carbon 80% by the year 2050. We received a call
late November from Senator Downing’s office informing us that Senator
Downing is officially on record as a supporter of the bill!
BCC
student Lance Spratling, through the sponsorship of the BCC Foundation
attended Powershift 2007, the first-ever national youth summit to solve
the climate crisis. At Powershift, Lance attended workshops, panels,
and a public hearing on global warming.
BCC MASSPIRG is looking forward to working with the SGA Earth Week in April.
Hunger and Homelessness: In
September, BCC MASSPIRG students Lance Spratling Kevin Learnard, and
Peter Loboda collected over 25 boxes of donated goods outside the
Pittsfield Stop and Shop to deliver to the Elizabeth Freeman Women’s
Shelter. During BCC’s Thanksgiving Meal, BCC MASSPIRG students
collected 87 petitions in support of food stamp recipients in Berkshire
County by asking attendees to support the Lugar and Lautenberg
Amendment under the Farm Bill reauthorization. BCC MASSPIRG students
look forward to next semester’s Hunger Clean-up to take place in April.
Affordable Textbooks: Through
the organizational efforts of MASSPIRG, 50 Massachusetts college
students attended the Affordable Textbooks Hearing at the State House
in Boston in October. After the hearing, the Affordable Textbooks bill
moved out of the Higher Education committee in record time and awaits
approval by the Ways and Means Committee.
Affordable Higher Education: After
years of working to pass a strong affordable higher education bill,
MASSPIRG and the nation saw “the largest investment in higher education
since the G.I. Bill,” said speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. The
College Cost Reduction and Access Act, signed by President Bush, on
September, 27, 2007, will increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship,
serve to cut loan interest rates by half, and skim subsidies to private
lenders.
Want to get involved and make some social change? Contact BCC's Campus Organizer, Tracie!
Tracie Konopinski MASSPIRG Campus Organizer, BCC tracie@masspirgstudents.org 856.266.7555 Hawthorne 239B www.masspirgstudents.org/bcc
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