Music so loud it could shake the capital, raving activists, and a party with a purpose: these encompass NYPIRG’s Student Action Rave held on March 7 at the Stood.
“This is a good turnover from our fall General Interest Meeting where we had about 25 people,” said Alex Wojcik, Purchase’s NYPIRG project coordinator. “Here, we’ve had a lot of people sign in and sign-up at different tables.”
Wojcik depicts the relaxed atmosphere of the event as NYPIRG’s General Interest Meeting was held in the form of a rave this year – integrating a party with purposeful activism. The meeting not only hosted four campus DJs but two special guest speakers from the NYPIRG organization.
“We get to empower so many people,” said Wojcik.
Empowerment characterized the four tables displaying the student campaigns of Higher Education Affordability, Consumer Advocacy, Hunger and Homeless Outreach, and Environmental Protection. These tables allowed the participants to meet the project leaders and interns.
Although the rave drew many individuals, consistent participation seemed rather lacking as the night continued on.
“Tonight is about the immediate future and the past. Tonight is about student activism,” said Kathleen Jordan, Chairperson of NYPIRG Board of Directors.
Jordan was the first keynote speaker explaining NYPIRG’s mission and their multiple successes. Jordan led the group through an annotated history of activism from the ‘60s to present day. She explained that these early activists wanted to get their desired results by creating a model of activism that could last. Jordan added, “We are completely student run.”
Some of the achievements made are the student activities fee, stopping mercury emissions, the Textbook Access Act, and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill. Jordan said that with the student activities fee students could practice freedom of speech and assembly – students gained more power as this fee can be used for any student wanted activity on campus.
“We can take on large, oil and gas companies; they want you to think it is too hard to change the status quo,” said Jordan as she concluded her story about the changes to Shale Research Institute due to NYPIRG’s efforts.
“So get your face painted and as Gandhi said, ‘Together we can be the change we want to see in the world,”’ closed Jordan.
The next and final speaker of the night was Kevin Stump, the higher education program coordinator, who emphasized the rapidly changing landscape of higher education. Stump explained that the dynamic of universities is far more concentrated on scheduling than financial aid. Stump also posited the idea that the U.S. has created an unfunded mandate calling for more Americans to go to college but not aiding them in such pursuits.
Stump presented data to promote his message in that, 70,000 work study jobs have been cut and there is a possibility of losing work study next academic year.
Stump pleaded for the students to join NYPIRG on March 12 to reinforce the seriousness of higher education and to work for reforms such as lowering the student to faculty ratio.
“Higher education is under attack,” said Stump, “and no one is going to fight for you but yourself.”
As the speeches came to an end, and the main events of the night were closing, members of NYPIRG lead by Brittany Bollenbach chanted, “Education is a right fight, fight, fight!”