MASSPIRG at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
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 MCLA this semester. MCLA
students Zach Peckham and Adam Forrester led the recruitment drive to
get 18 MCLA students to attend Powershift 2007, the first-ever national
youth summit to solve the climate crisis. At Powershift, students
attended workshops, panels, a public hearing on global warming, and
lobbied their legislators on Capital Hill. Over $1,000 was raised
through fundraising efforts on campus and in the local North Adams
community to cover housing, food, and supply costs. MCLA SGA sponsored
this event, and through their generous contributions, we were able to
cover all travel costs.
MCLA MASSPIRG students also worked
hard through educational events like “Pinwheels for Wind power” and
“Solar Cocoa” to 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!
MCLA MASSPIRG is looking forward to
working with the Green Tem to bring the ideas and skills learned at
Powershift to MCLA’s campus and local community.
Hunger and Homelessness: During
MCLA’s Hunger Banquet, MCLA MASSPIRG students collected 75 petitions in
support of food stamp recipients in Berkshire County by asking Hunger
Banquet participants to support the Lugar and Lautenberg Amendment
under the Farm Bill reauthorization. MCLA MASSPIRG students look
forward to next semester’s Hunger Clean-up to take place in April.
Water Watch: MCLA
MASSPIRG students held a river clean-up at Natural Bridge State Park in
North Adams on November 3, 2007. Included in the clean-up debris was a
bike!
Affordable Textbooks: MCLA freshman, Christine
Davis joined 50 other Massachusetts college students at the State House
in Boston, MA in October for the Affordable Textbooks Hearing and was
quoted in the Berkshire Eagle article, “Students rally against rising
textbooks costs.” 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. To raise awareness and build
political support for the bill, MCLA MASSPIRG students collected
textbook horror story photos and testimonials, which were presented to
the Higher Education Committee during the Affordable Textbooks Hearing.
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 MCLA's Campus Organizer, Tracie!
Tracie Konopinski MASSPIRG Campus Organizer, MCLA tracie@masspirgstudents.org 856.266.7555 www.masspirgstudents.org/mcla
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