PIRGs on College Campuses

[theflintseeker]

I was walking in the nice big Quad of my University today, and was continually pestered by folks associated with CALPIRG, or, California Public Interest Research Group. Four or five times, I had people come up to me, asking me if I wanted to sign their petition opposing Prop 23 in California. I was a little annoyed. There are campus clubs that come out all the time that come and hand out fliers, but these are usually student run groups. CALPIRG is an enormous public interest "research group" that takes stances on political issues such as prop 23. They used to be able to collect fees on my campus unless a student opted out of the program, but now they instead have a pledge week where they pester students enough until they decide to pledge $5/qtr. When they got the automatic funding cut from student fees at my school, they complained that it was in direct response to them protesting against a pesticide, though the president of our system said it was because they are a group not associated with the university (why were they allowed to do it in the FIRST PLACE?). They are still allowed to maintain an office at our campus.

My question is, should "public interest" research groups like this be able to use a PUBLIC University as a staging ground for pledging and promoting a political agenda? I don't see any other lobby groups given the same royal treatment as CALPIRG is. Should the PIRGs be allowed such unparalleled access to the student body and its money?

Here is the CALPIRG "student site" (http://www.calpirgstudents.org/) for those who want to see it.

Oh, and here's some fun anecdotes about people trying to cancel once they've joined:
link (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CBwQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.collegeconfidential.com%2Funiversity-california-san-diego%2F1009681-un-pledge-calpirg.html&rct=j&q=%20site%3Atalk.collegeconfidential.com%20calpirg%20cancel&ei=ar-_TLXTB4r4sAPzy-X-BA&usg=AFQjCNH2M_vXzfPc7hl2HX_mYbu2GL5A5A&cad=rja)
link (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.collegeconfidential.com%2Funiversity-california-berkeley%2F755038-how-cancel-calpirg-bill.html&rct=j&q=%20site%3Atalk.collegeconfidential.com%20calpirg%20cancel&ei=ar-_TLXTB4r4sAPzy-X-BA&usg=AFQjCNGJhDXqSUbXpfPvj2LGQIet7rUw8w&cad=rja)
link (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBgQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.collegeconfidential.com%2Funiversity-california-berkeley%2F1000587-un-pledge-calpirg.html&rct=j&q=%20site%3Atalk.collegeconfidential.com%20calpirg%20cancel&ei=ar-_TLXTB4r4sAPzy-X-BA&usg=AFQjCNHNN7MNtqxlK-VFm_WQAhEXcycXTg&cad=rja)

Someone's bad experience with a PIRG in Washington state (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2204399783&topic=1709)

[Rebound]

CalPIRG is standing up to multi-billion dollar, out-of-state oil companies who are trying to overturn our laws. And they're doing it almost entirely through volunteers. Their $5/semester/student budget pays for only a few staffers; it's pennies against the tens of millions that polluters are spending so that they can line their pockets with more cash by polluting more.

[theflintseeker]

CalPIRG is standing up to multi-billion dollar, out-of-state oil companies who are trying to overturn our laws. And they're doing it almost entirely through volunteers.

Wow, you completely failed to address the question. Should a lobby group like CALPIRG be allowed unparalleled access to the student body and their money? The question is not whether you specifically agree with their stances on issues. Prop 23 is just one of their many political endevours.

Their $5/semester/student budget pays for only a few staffers; it's pennies against the tens of millions that polluters are spending so that they can line their pockets with more cash by polluting more.

Yes on 23 has oil companies, no on 23 has rich bankers and special interests.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_23_%282010%29

"Through the end of September, campaign contributions to both sides totalled around $20 million, with the "No on 23" organizations ahead in the money race by about $2 million. [8]"

Donors against
Donor Amount
Thomas Steyer $2,500,000
Natural Resources Defense Council $1,500,000
Robert Fisher $1,000,000
Green Tech Action Fund $500,000
Wendy Schmidt $500,000
Claire Perry $500,000
L. John Doerr $500,000
William Patterson $250,000
Anne Earhart $250,000
Susan Packard Orr $250,000
Nicholas Berggruen $250,000
California Teachers Association $200,000
Julie Packard $101,000
Nancy Burnett $100,000
Green Tech Capital Advisors $100,000
Audubon Society $100,000
Majestic Realty $100,000

[discoverEdeals]

On campuses? That's fine. Now we need to figure out how to keep the college kids handing out flyers out of the real world. I don't care that we spend fifteen billion trillion times more $$$ on war than on AIDS relief. I don't care about some random animal that is close to extinction. I just want to get to work, I have shit to do. These "do-gooders" are more frustrating than the homeless.

[Mixels]

I was walking in the nice big Quad of my University today, and was continually pestered by folks associated with CALPIRG, or, California Public Interest Research Group. Four or five times, I had people come up to me, asking me if I wanted to sign their petition opposing Prop 23 in California. I was a little annoyed. There are campus clubs that come out all the time that come and hand out fliers, but these are usually student run groups. CALPIRG is an enormous public interest "research group" that takes stances on political issues such as prop 23. They used to be able to collect fees on my campus unless a student opted out of the program, but now they instead have a pledge week where they pester students enough until they decide to pledge $5/qtr. When they got the automatic funding cut from student fees at my school, they complained that it was in direct response to them protesting against a pesticide, though the president of our system said it was because they are a group not associated with the university (why were they allowed to do it in the FIRST PLACE?). They are still allowed to maintain an office at our campus.

My question is, should "public interest" research groups like this be able to use a PUBLIC University as a staging ground for pledging and promoting a political agenda? I don't see any other lobby groups given the same royal treatment as CALPIRG is. Should the PIRGs be allowed such unparalleled access to the student body and its money?

Here is the CALPIRG "student site" (http://www.calpirgstudents.org/) for those who want to see it.

Oh, and here's some fun anecdotes about people trying to cancel once they've joined:
link (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CBwQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.collegeconfidential.com%2Funiversity-california-san-diego%2F1009681-un-pledge-calpirg.html&rct=j&q=%20site%3Atalk.collegeconfidential.com%20calpirg%20cancel&ei=ar-_TLXTB4r4sAPzy-X-BA&usg=AFQjCNH2M_vXzfPc7hl2HX_mYbu2GL5A5A&cad=rja)
link (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.collegeconfidential.com%2Funiversity-california-berkeley%2F755038-how-cancel-calpirg-bill.html&rct=j&q=%20site%3Atalk.collegeconfidential.com%20calpirg%20cancel&ei=ar-_TLXTB4r4sAPzy-X-BA&usg=AFQjCNGJhDXqSUbXpfPvj2LGQIet7rUw8w&cad=rja)
link (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBgQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.collegeconfidential.com%2Funiversity-california-berkeley%2F1000587-un-pledge-calpirg.html&rct=j&q=%20site%3Atalk.collegeconfidential.com%20calpirg%20cancel&ei=ar-_TLXTB4r4sAPzy-X-BA&usg=AFQjCNHNN7MNtqxlK-VFm_WQAhEXcycXTg&cad=rja)

Someone's bad experience with a PIRG in Washington state (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2204399783&topic=1709)

Sure they should be allowed. Why would you say they shouldn't? Because being pestered annoys you? You could always opt not to go out in public where there are thousands of people just waiting for the chance to pester you.

[Dr. J]

Sure they should be allowed. Why would you say they shouldn't? Because being pestered annoys you? You could always opt not to go out in public where there are thousands of people just waiting for the chance to pester you.

did you read OP? He said that up until recently, unless you specifically "opted out", the school AUTOMATICALLY GAVE YOUR MONEY to this group. Now that that's ended, they are still allowed to have an official office on campus. Are all groups given such privileges?

[Mixels]

did you read OP? He said that up until recently, unless you specifically "opted out", the school AUTOMATICALLY GAVE YOUR MONEY to this group. Now that that's ended, they are still allowed to have an official office on campus. Are all groups given such privileges?

I don't know about CA, but at the Ohio State University, it is A-OK for the university to provide funding and work space for student groups. Which groups receive this funding and how much of it are determined by the student government and the Office of Student Affairs. As far as I know, a fair number of larger universities are like this, and the only time it really becomes a problem is when a university refuses to give a student group funding on account of some discriminatory measure. As far as I can tell, this group actually would have a use for the office, and the reality that the group's results could be shared with the university seems to support the decision.

I do and don't agree with this practice. The funding allows student groups to provide opportunities for students that almost certainly would not exist otherwise. On the other hand, it costs me money. I took advantage of several of these opportunities--though not specifically of the sort mentioned in the OP--during my time as an undergrad, and I am very glad they were available. In retrospect, however, I can see how those who did not participate would resent having to pay the fee. That's the nature of the beast.

Finally, if he had the option to opt out and wanted to take advantage of it, he should have done. Poof?

[Rebound]

On campuses? That's fine. Now we need to figure out how to keep the college kids handing out flyers out of the real world. I don't care that we spend fifteen billion trillion times more $$$ on war than on AIDS relief. I don't care about some random animal that is close to extinction. I just want to get to work, I have shit to do. These "do-gooders" are more frustrating than the homeless.Yeah, why don't they understand that it's all about me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me.

[theflintseeker]

Yeah, why don't they understand that it's all about me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me.

You are really good at selective reading. Again, the thread is not about whether its ok for a group to pester me or whether said group is doing something that you judge to be worthy, it is about whether a highly political group should be allowed unparalleledaccess to the students and their money.

[Rebound]

Wow, you completely failed to address the question. Should a lobby group like CALPIRG be allowed unparalleled access to the student body and their money?I went to the UC, and there were dozens and dozens of student groups, and they had tables at lunch time, and offices In the student union, yadda, yadda, yadda

Quitcherbichin'

[theflintseeker]

I don't know about CA, but at the Ohio State University, it is A-OK for the university to provide funding and work space for student groups. Which groups receive this funding and how much of it are determined by the student government and the Office of Student Affairs. As far as I know, a fair number of larger universities are like this, and the only time it really becomes a problem is when a university refuses to give a student group funding on account of some discriminatory measure. As far as I can tell, this group actually would have a use for the office, and the reality that the group's results could be shared with the university seems to support the decision.

This is not a student run group, it is an external lobby with a student branch. What use would they have for the office? Why should they get an office and not all of the other student run clubs?

I do and don't agree with this practice. The funding allows student groups to provide opportunities for students that almost certainly would not exist otherwise. On the other hand, it costs me money. I took advantage of several of these opportunities--though not specifically of the sort mentioned in the OP--during my time as an undergrad, and I am very glad they were available. In retrospect, however, I can see how those who did not participate would resent having to pay the fee. That's the nature of the beast.

Again, this is not a club, it's a lobby.


Finally, if he had the option to opt out and wanted to take advantage of it, he should have done. Poof?

So we should just be able to garnish everyone's wages and give it to some lobby that someone thinks deserves it until a person opts out? The vast majority of the kids here never look twice at their student bill and wouldn't even if they did, wouldn't know they had the choice to opt out.

I went to the UC, and there were dozens and dozens of student groups, and they had tables at lunch time, and offices In the student union, yadda, yadda, yadda

Quitcherbichin'

:facepalm: This is NOT a student run group. Those groups you mentioned did NOT get to skim off the top of student fees. No other clubs get offices in our Union.

[Rebound]

Again, this is not a club, it's a lobby.
.And how would you characterize the Campus Republicans?

[theflintseeker]

And how would you characterize the Campus Republicans?

The same way I would characterize the College Democrats. A student run group that affiliates themselves with the Republican (Democratic) party. Neither gets an office in the student union. Neither gets to skim off the top of student fees- they make an application to the club finance counsel like every other student run group. I have no problem with either group.

[Mixels]

This is not a student run group, it is an external lobby with a student branch. What use would they have for the office? Why should they get an office and not all of the other student run clubs?



Again, this is not a club, it's a lobby.



So we should just be able to garnish everyone's wages and give it to some lobby that someone thinks deserves it until a person opts out? The vast majority of the kids here never look twice at their student bill and wouldn't even if they did, wouldn't know they had the choice to opt out.



:facepalm: This is NOT a student run group. Those groups you mentioned did NOT get to skim off the top of student fees. No other clubs get offices in our Union.

You live in CA. Non-CA residents can't speak for your state, but, moreover, we really don't pretend to even understand what goes on in your public institutions. My best guess is that this public interest group employs students and lobbies for the university.

[LivninSC]

Public Universities = Public Grounds.

They can do what they want to on it, as long as it's within the schools guidelines. I think it's annoying that they bug the crap out of you but I can't even walk in to a grocery now without being hit up for something.

Now, I don't see why/how they're able to have an office there as they aren't directly affiliated with the university.

[Rebound]

I think it's annoying that they bug the crap out of you..The more he cries and whines about it, the happier I am that he's annoyed by them.

[barq200]

If the op can't stand to be around dissenting ideas, then he doesn't belong at a university. Ideas are not like viruses. You aren't going to ' catch' conservatism just because conservative activists are tabling on campus, for example.

[LivninSC]

If the op can't stand to be around dissenting ideas, then he doesn't belong at a university. Ideas are not like viruses. You aren't going to ' catch' conservatism just because conservative activists are tabling on campus, for example.

Do you even read before posting???????

It's not that he can't stand being around people with dissenting ideas but rather being repeatedly badgered by people for his $$ by a group that no longer has any actual affiliation with the public university yet for some reason is given an office there. Actually, he really just asks whether " "public interest" research groups like this be able to use a PUBLIC University as a staging ground for pledging and promoting a political agenda?"

He's not worried about catching conservatism like a virus because he walked by a group. :rolleyes:

Good thing lack of reading comprehension isn't like a virus and can't be caught simply by posting in the same thread as someone who has it. Phew!