Science & Outdoors
Public interest group is the voice for Wisconsin
The Pointer
jtowl695@uwsp.edu
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point chapter of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group is a young and thriving organization. Though it debuted on the UWSP campus six years ago, WISPIRG has been around for 20 years and is rooted in Madison.
Jarod Gregory, WISPIRG campus organizer, called the organization a “state based, student-led, public interest group” to which Matthew Guidry, WISPIRG treasurer, added, “that pushes for positive social change.”
A typical day finds WISPIRG tackling issues relating to the environment, health care, hunger, homelessness and transportation. Currently, they are supporting the federal transportation bill that will “help expand public transportation options and bring new high-speed rail to Wisconsin and states across the country” according to the WISPIRG official Web site.
WISPIRG hopes that the bill, which Congress will take up this year, will improve public transportation and make it more readily accessible. The organization is dedicated to providing innovative solutions for problems that affect Wisconsin citizens.
Meetings, which are held every Monday night at 7 p.m. in room 70E of the Dreyfus University Center, are based around campaign planning, volunteering, press releases and most importantly learning “how to be an effective citizen,” said Guidry.
In order to bring awareness to and actively pursue various issues, WISPIRG hosts media and political action events. They invite the public to join in a cause that they believe will better the lives of citizens around the state. Calling or writing letters to state representatives and signing petitions allows an individual to take on the role of an activist.
One way in which WISPIRG is actively involved on campus is a residence hall competition that encourages students to use the least amount of resources possible.
Other events that testify to WISPIRG’s community involvement include volunteering at a local homeless center during Hunger Cleanup and a Green Building Tour that promotes energy efficiency among small business owners.
Gregory, who was recently hired by WISPIRG for the full-time position of campus organizer, said that the beauty of the group is that it allows students to “build up their experience by doing things that can make a difference on their campus, in their community and in their state.”
