Vote Yes for ConnPIRG In Upcoming Elections

Ah yes, spring is in the air. There are so many wonderful reasons to love the season. Personally, even more than listening to birds chirping outside my window and basking in the sun's warmth, I am looking forward to one thing above all else - SGA's spring elections.

As they rapidly approach, however, I have a hunch that many people may not be aware that there will be a special question on the ballot - one that only appears every two years - concerning one of Trinity's most important groups: ConnPIRG.

Because ConnPIRG is affiliated with a national organization, it must go through a reaffirmation vote here on campus in order to remain officially recognized by the College.

I strongly believe that every student should vote yes on April 11 to keep ConnPIRG around.

For anyone that doesn't know, ConnPIRG actually does a lot, but before I get into that, I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there, I'll tell you about how ConnPIRG became an organization without compare. (Sorry, but I couldn't help but steal a line from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.") The PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups) were started in the 1970s by Ralph Nader and a group of students who got together and pooled their money to hire advocates to make their voices heard.

ConnPIRG is one of the oldest PIRGs. The Trinity chapter has been here for over 30 years (so it'd be a shame to see it go). ConnPIRG, including the Trinity chapter, has been involved with major undertakings in the past and to this day, ranging from advocating bills to protect consumers from identity theft and to alert parents to dangerous toys, to pressuring Congress to pass a national new car lemon law.

Last year, in an action that more directly affects students, ConnPIRG helped in getting the Connecticut State legislature to require textbook publishers to make their prices available to faculty. Students at Trinity, University of Connecticut at Hartford, and University of Connecticut at Storrs collected signatures to make this a reality. Also, more recently and specifically at Trinity, ConnPIRG's three main campaigns have achieved major successes. With the Hunger and Homelessness campaign, over $20,000 was raised to help local shelters and service agencies keep operating.

In addition to this, Hunger and Homelessness held several food drives and hosted a number of events to raise awareness for these two social issues. Through the New Voters Project (most active during the fall before the November mid-term elections), there was a 30 percent voter increase at the Trinity polling place.

And with the Campus Climate Challenge campaign, which focuses on addressing the problem of global warming, over 800 incandescent light bulbs were switched to energy-efficient compact fluorescent ones, thanks to donations from the Building and Grounds Department, as well as from General Electric.

Overall, ConnPIRG is an active, effective organization, and definitely a valuable asset to have on campus. Instead of just talking about problems, this group actually goes out and does things to solve them.

What's more, every Trinity student pays a waivable $5 fee on their term bills that allows ConnPIRG to hire staff to make an impact off-campus as well. So, as you can see, there should be support for ConnPIRG's initiatives, starting with a yes vote on April 11.

For more information about ConnPIRG, please contact Katie Kleese, Campus Organizer.