Accomplishments

New Voters Project:
This year a strong team of PIRG students worked tirelessly to register over 900 students on both campuses of USM and at SMCC.  To interest and invest students in local politics PIRG hosted a municipal candidate forum and invited local candidates running for school board and city council to come speak to students about their visions for Portland.  Leading up to the presidential election PIRG educated students about their voter rights and the requirements needed to vote.  Students tabled weekly to inform USMers of their polling places and to get the community excited about the youth vote.  PIRG efforts were responsible for reminding approximately 4,000 students to vote on November 4th! 

Truth About Credit:
In response to student interest and need, PIRG is currently running its “Truth About Credit” campaign to educate students about how to be safe credit card consumers and how to avoid common pitfalls that can damage their credit.  PIRG has formed a coalition of student groups and university departments to sponsor a credit card forum where students can get candid answers to their credit concerns.

Local Foods:
This fall USM PIRG sponsored Harvest Fest, an annual on-campus celebration of local foods.  Students invited guest speakers from Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups as well as local farms to raise awareness about buying locally.  During Harvest Fest USM PIRG worked with Dining Services to promote a Made in Maine meal in the cafeterias on both campuses.  Additionally USM PIRG raffled off fresh local veggies to students and had a booth to bob for apples in the campus café.

Affordable Textbooks:
Thanks to outrageous textbook prices and a broken textbook market, PIRG has created a resolution to promote and address the textbook problems at USM, which will be presented to the Student Senate this month.  PIRG leaders have created fun ways for students to share alternative methods of buying books for classes—like Guitar Hero-palooza (where students come, have fun, and talk about book swaps and the best online places to find used, cheap books).

Higher Education:
Thanks to the incredible work of PIRG students Opportunity Maine, a statewide program that provides debt relief to students who choose to stay and work in Maine after graduation, is now a viable success!  This year PIRG students have worked with Opportunity Maine to streamline the enrollment process and educate students about their eligibility for the program.