2010 was a year of intense campaigning for UMM’s MPIRG chapter. On Election Day, MPIRG students corralled over 500 registered voters to participate in the election process. At this chapter, MPIRG task forces have made amazing strides in lowering tuition costs, encouraging an integrated waste management policy, challenging institutionalized gender labels, and bringing sweatshop-free apparel to campus.
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| U of M – Morris Chapter 2008 - 2009. |
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Affordable Higher Education/The affordable Higher Education Task force championed the issue of rising tuition costs at a statewide focus at this year’s Issues and Actions. The task force is compiling on a debt yearbook that accounts the ongoing financial burdens that mounting tuition costs have on students. Higher Ed also hosted a Debt Destruction extravaganza to educate students about the impending budget deficit’s implications to an increased tuition rate. This upcoming year the task force will focus on establishing an on-campus textbook exchange program.
Local Foods/Sustainable Agriculture/The Local Foods/Sustainable Agriculture Task Force was instrumental in drawing attention to the need to amend UMM’s unsustainable waste management policies on the forefront of the campus’s agenda. Local Foods assembled students, staff, administrators, and local farmers to a community-wide summit organized through the Minnesota Green Corps and UMM’s Office of Sustainability to coordinate efforts to create a composting program at Morris. Local Foods also hosted a week-long suite of environmentally-themed events in April in celebration of Earth Day.
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University of Minnesota Morris Senior and MPIRG member Matt Abbott, right, delivers signed petitions to Associate to the President Lynn Holleran on Friday in Morrill Hall. The group had signed petitions wanting the University to cut its contract with Russell Athletics after suspicions of unfair treatment of its workers.
Photo: The Minnesota Daily, 2/19/09, Jules Ameel |
Gender and Sexuality/The Gender and Sexuality task force celebrated a change in policy that culminated in new gender-neutral bathrooms in UMM’s Multi-ethnic Resource Center as well as hosting a gubernatorial forum on G and S issues and a system wide GLBTA Summit. This semester, Gender and Sexuality hosted speakers like Katie Holm and Winona LaDuke and rally to eliminate tampons dispensed on-campus that may cause toxic shock syndrome.
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U of M - Morris MPIRGers at Powershift 2009 in Washinton, D.C., which has since been called one of the best organized lobby days by current members of Congress. |
Fair Labor/The Fair Labor Task Force launched a trip to Georgia in protest of the School of Americas. Also, Fair Labor acquired a new contract with fair labor brand Alta Gracia to supply sweatshop-free apparel on campus. In addition, the task force is working on a campaign to reform student labor conditions in dining services on campuses throughout the state. They also launched a Fair Trade Week to showcase socially-responsible products in an Ethical Emporium and a viewing of the documentary Workingman’s Death.
To get involved, contact the student leaders:
Joe Hartmann, Co-Chair, hartm242@morris.umn.edu
Michael Peters, Co-Chair, pete7900@morris.umn.edu
You may also attend the regular MPIRG chapter meeting at:
Regular Weekly Meetings
Wednesdays in the Moccasin Flower Room, 7-8 PM
Campus Organizer
Joey Dobson, extension 307, joey@mpirg.org
www.morris.umn.edu
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