MASSPIRG at Middlesex Community College!

Middlesex CC's MASSPIRG chapter says "Enough" to unfair credit card marketing

^{On Thursday in the city building lobby the MASSPIRG chapter at MCC released the "credit trap" report done by U.S. PIRG which outlines the unfair marketing practices of the credit industry. The average student recieves neary 5 credit card offers a month and is graduating with an average of 4,000 in credit card debt. Credit cards are marketed to students using free gifts, introductory teaser rates - and some schools are even selling the information of its students to these companies. Many students are using credit cards to buy books, food and even pay for tuition. Over 55 students and faculty signed on to the "Principles of Fair Credit Card Marketing" and the chapter handed out over 40 "consumer's guide to credit cards" in their efforts to educate the student body and address the issues of student debt. Check out the Lowell Sun article which featured the chapter and the report on the front page on Friday March 28th.} 

CHECK IT OUT! GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT PASSES THROUGH THE MASS STATE SENATE!

Spring Semester 2008 Campaigns

• The Campus Climate Challenge: As part of a nationwide environmental movement led by college students, we are determined to reduce our impact on global warming. We're working to get our campus to be a leader in reducing our global warming pollution, and we are also working to pass a law that would make Massachusetts a leader in stopping global warming as well. We need to get our local leaders and representatives to sign on in support of the "Global Warming Solutions Act" - come help us find creative ways to get their attention and their commitment to stopping global climate change!
• Higher Education: This campaign is centered on making college affordable for everyone. We're working to stop textbook company rip-offs, and reduce student debt by getting legislation passed in the state house and at the federal level that would make shady practices of publishing companies illegal! We're also going to organize a student-to-student book swap at the end if the semester on May 7th and May 8th. We are looking for volunteers to help uss on the days as well as volunteers to help us make posters.
  
• Hunger and Homelessness: We'll be raising awareness and taking action to help the hungry and impoverished through service at local shelters and soup kitchens, education events on campus, and fundraising for local agencies.

^{Lisa Pecora and Eric Gonzalez met with Senator Panagiotakos's legislative aid to ask for his support of the  Global Warming Solutions Act.}

Get Involved

Every Week is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week!

Come help solve poverty issues on campus, in the community and nationally.  Here's what is going on this week:

We will be doing service on April 4th for the annual Hunger Clean Up from 10am to 2 pm. 

"Spare Change for Social Change!"
Tables in Bedford on Wednesdays 11-1 to raise money for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank and in Lowell on Tuesdays 11-1.

Volunteer at The Merrimack Food Bank!  Friday between the hours of 9 and 4.
Help the local food bank sort through the donations and allocate food to community members in need.

We will be taking part in the Merrimack Valley Foodbank Pantry Raid by going out into local communities and neighborhoods and placing paper bags that people can fill with non-perishable food items on door handles. We will go back in one weeks time to collect the bags and deliver them to the food bank

For more information and to sign up, stop by at our tables on both campus's or visit our Hunger Clean Up website : hungercleanup.org

Or, contact Sally directly by email at Sally@masspirgstudents.org

^{Gregory Burke, Chapter Chair Adam Hansen and Derek Lawrence take a shot at global warming during the "Wellness Expo" at Lowell Campus.} 

^{Danielle Nutter volunteers during a "call in day" to Senator Panagiotakos's Office in support of the global warming solutions act.} 

Stop by our meeting and learn about politics, global warming and what you can do to help.

We meet on Thursdays in Lowell 12-1 in the "new" student lounge. 

_{STOPPING GLOBAL WARMING STARTS HERE!}

_{Board representative Adnel Ramic and volunteer Bernice Lamb pause for the camera while registering students to vote at MCC Bedford.}

_{Students sign Stop Global Warming Petitions at MCC Bedford.}

_{A student signs a MASSPIRG interest card after donating spare change at our SHIFT Coalition fundraiser on the Bedford campus.}

 
2006 Poverty Awareness Panel

The event saw over 60 students, faculty and administrators in attendence

Julie Bethoney, Hunger and Homelessness events coordinator, speaks at the 2006 Poverty Awareness Panel at MCC Bedford.