This week, a very important election is taking place on campus, as we once again must decide if we want to keep WashPIRG at Evergreen. In case you aren’t familiar, WashPIRG is a student-directed advocacy organization that has been working here at Evergreen. And since the 1980’s WashPIRG has been fighting to protect the environment, promote civic engagement, and provide hunger relief. You may know us from our work to register people to vote in the midterm Elections, our push for 100% clean energy, or our efforts to ban single-use plastic in the state of Washington.
The reason WashPIRG is effective at its job is because we’re funded through an $8 per quarter waivable fee that allows us to hire professional staff. The WashPIRG paid campus organizer works full time on campus and teaches students effective, grassroots campaign skills including, but not limited to, collecting petitions, outreaching to the media, and lobbying elected officials. Just this quarter, WashPIRG has testified at the Capitol four times in support of the 100% Clean Electricity Bill in Washington, a statewide ban on plastic bags, and better access to food through the use of EBT or food stamps on college campuses.
Thanks to the support of our Greeners, WashPIRG has been able to carry out mission of organize college students to solve some of the world’s most pressing public interest problems. But now we must ask once again for the student body to reaffirm their support for our program in the GSU Elections.
So, make sure to vote YES this week to make sure WashPIRG is able to keep fighting. Go to MyEvergreen.edu and click on “Vote” under your To Do List. Let’s keep activism alive and strong here at the Evergreen State College.
–Carlos D Otero
