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