Global Warming Solutions: We called for local, national, and international action to solve global warming. To support the first national legislation on global warming we generated over 500 grassroots actions to thank Senator Kerry for being a Climate Super Hero and help build support in the Senate for bold action on global warming. Alicia Welch helped organize a two-day Solar Powered hot chocolate event where over 250 students pledged to help take a step up against global warming. We also organized a Race for Solutions on 10/24, as part of the International Day of Action to spread awareness about the most important number when dealing with climate change: 350. 350 parts per million (ppm) is the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that scientists predict will prevent the worst climatic disasters from occurring. Finally we constructed a wind mill that displayed green handprints and photo petitions to create a giant wind farm for Senator Kerry, before he headed to Copenhagen to meet with world leaders to discuss international solutions to global warming.

Hunger and Homelessness: It was a tough year for many American families, and across the North Shore food pantries have seen an over 15% increase in demand for food. On campus Tyler MacInnis, Jess Puzak, Patty Sheehan, Matt DiLorenzo and other volunteers joined the 9/11 National Day of Service by organizing a change drive to raise money for the Salem Mission and cook a pasta dinner for the homeless in our community. And in November we participated in the National Hunger Awareness week with Student Government and other campus clubs by hosting a week of events on campus including a food and necessity drive, Hunger Banquet, and an open-mic night. The Hunger Banquet attracted almost 50 people, and featured three panelist speakers from Oxfam America, Project Bread, and a SSC faculty member, Dr. Avi Chomsky. This semester we raised over $300 for the Salem Mission and food pantry, and hundreds of servings of food for the hungry in our community.

Making Higher Education Affordable: In September we helped pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) through the House. SAFRA will increase financial aid for students by $87 billion by cutting subsidies to banks and private lenders like Sallie Mae and Citibank. Since September we’ve been building support for the bill in the Senate. On campus we participated in the National Raising Pell Week of Action by hosting a call in day to Senator Kerry, and made over 40 calls. The Student Government also passed a resolution entitled, “The Declaration of Education” where they called on our decision makers to safeguard student borrowers and make college more affordable.

Zero Waste - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Last semester we worked to build public support to move Massachusetts to a system of zero waste, which would increase and expand recycling, and reduce the need to bury and burn tons of millions of trash every year. Students Kyle Webster and Jim Zorabedian collected over 150 petitions from students to support updating the Bottle Bill and improve recycling in our state.

Making Health Care Work: We’ve been demonstrating support from young people for reform that will make health care more affordable and reliable and create a public option to compete with private insurers. We hosted a Health Care Reform Round-Table discussion with the Student Government, with Congressman John Tierney as the guest speaker. Students were able to engage in a dialogue about the current reform debate and House bill, which was passed this semester.

More and Better Public Transit: We’re building support for high speed rail and other public transit options to reduce our dependence on oil and fight global warming. Lawrence Gleekia and other students traveled took their “love train” to Boston to ask State Senator Berry to sign onto our 21st Century Transportation principles, and we presented the love train to Representative Keenan, who is a champion on public transit here in Salem.

New Voters Project: This fall we helped 250 students register to vote in the gubernatorial race along with Student Government and the Political Science Academy. Our efforts will encourage young people and students to get out and vote, especially in this important Senate Election to fill the seat of the late Senator Kennedy. In 2008 young people turned out to vote in record numbers, and we need to keep up the momentum so politicians will pay attention to us and the issues we care about.