By Allie Tempus
The
Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group is expanding beyond
its Big Red, Go Green campaign this semester to fighting homelessness,
expensive textbooks and dirty politicians.
WISPIRG held its kickoff meeting in Birge Hall Tuesday, recruiting
new members and spreading the word about the organization’s new
campaigns for the fall semester.
“The issues are huge and important to us,” WISPIRG State and UW
Chapter chair Jeff Rolling said. “We see these problems every day when
we walk past the homeless on State Street or when we hear reports of
global warming on the news.”
Rolling said students also face similar problems when “reading our
overpriced text books” and attending football games at a stadium that
lacks recycling bins.
To address these issues, WISPIRG has outlined five campaigns
including BRGG, Conservation and Recycling Efforts, Hunger and
Homelessness, Affordable Textbooks and Clean Elections.
New Associate Dean of Students Argyle Wade and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz both spoke at the event.
Both Wade and Cieslewicz said the University of Wisconsin is known
for its activism, as it historically produces a high number of peace
corps volunteers.
Additionally, Wade said WISPIRG is an organization that is built on
the “Wisconsin Idea,” which encourages a commitment to making positive
changes in the world.
“Activism is one of the reasons I took this job,” Wade said. “This
is exactly what we’d hoped. That you will come together to do
meaningful things that will change society.”
Cieslewicz discussed each of the group’s five campaigns and
explained how the city of Madison is working toward many of the same
goals.
Regarding the campaigns, Cieslewicz voiced concern for the
alarmingly high rate of homeless men in the city, which is up 30
percent since last year.
“What we have to do is put the Wisconsin Idea on steroids,”
Cieslewicz said. “We have to make sure that the benefits of the
university really do get to the entire state.”
This spring BRGG will be hosting an event funded by MTV, which
awarded the group $5,000 to throw an “eco-party,” BRGG coordinator Tony
Uhl said.
Other major events on the WISPIRG slate include a nationwide energy
conference during Earth Week this spring, which will feature expert
guest speakers and weeklong events.
In addition, WISPIRG’s Homelessness and Hunger campaign is hosting a national conference on Nov. 2 through Nov. 4.
“We are really, really excited to be hosting the 20th annual
national student conference against hunger and homelessness,” Homeless
and Hunger conference coordinator Cathy Collentine said. “We’re hoping
to get 400 students from across the nation here in Madison talking
about the issues that have to do with poverty.”
Rolling, who oversees all WISPIRG campaigns, said the group’s goals are relevant to all UW students.
“You go on campus, you go to class, you learn about global warming,
you learn about recycling issues, and you come to our group and we say,
‘Let’s do a project, let’s put what you know into motion,’” Rolling
said.
