A Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is a student-funded and student-run resource center with a focus on confronting social, economic, and environmental injustices through research, education, and action.
We had a lovely surprise this morning when we opened up The Sheaf and saw this article talking about our goal of establishing a PIRG at the UofS!
Give it a read and share it with your friends!
SPIRG is hosting its first public event! We decided to hold a panel discussion on the benefits of having a PIRG, since they seem to exist in campuses all across Canada (see picture) and we think Saskatoon could totally use one too! We figure the idea of a PIRG is still fairly unknown to the general public, so we’ll start things off with a brief explanation of what a PIRG is and the panelists will branch off into what a PIRG at the UofS could potentially mean for our community!
We’re hoping to build some strong solidarity with already established groups on campus as well as discover new allies and help support them in their work as well. There are a lot of great efforts being made by many different people, and SPIRG hopes to facilitate a more cohesive and mutually beneficial relationship between all groups. We aim to be a space, place, and meeting ground for social justice initiatives to receive support, funding, resources, and networking.
So, details for the event as follows…
Seeking Social Justice on Campus?
How a Public Interest Research Group can help address issues of economic, environmental, and social justice.
Date: Tuesday, March 19th
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Location: ARTS 241, Neatby-Timlin Theatre, University of Saskatchewan.
Panelists include:
Howard Woodhouse faculty of Educational Foundations, author of “Selling out: Academic freedom and the corporate market”
Priscilla Settee - professor of Native Studies, Research includes: Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Women’s Rights, Impact of Globalization on Indigenous Peoples, Protection of Biodiversity
Kota Kimura - masters student in Environmental Anthropology, community organizer
Sasha Hanson-Pastran - graduate of International Studies, community organizer and current participant in Next Up
Refreshments will be provided!
Here’s a link to our Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/470996682969876/?fref=ts
1. Welcome to newcomers
2. Ratification Update
3. Working group updates/ ASSU Meetings
4. Update from USSU meeting
4.5 What stems from that meeting
5. Tunnels
1. Welcome to New Comers:
explanation/definition of PIRG and its initiatives
Review of Mission Statement
Review of Values
2. Ratification Update
-We have paid fees and applied for ratification
-Constitution has been amended
3. Working Group Update
Social Media Working Group:
-Have set up a twitter, instagram, and tumblr account
Faculty Groups:
- A number of professors have been contacted and are sympathetic to our cause
Art Group:
-Looked at logo ideas
-Theme of bridge was most popular
-Pamphlets will be made for next meeting
Campus Clubs:
-Discussed the idea of meeting with other campus clubs during our meeting time to let them know what we’re doing and what they think and how our cause is applicable with their values
-Framework of that process needs to be worked out
Petition:
-Has been made
4. USSU Meeting:
-Discussed the results of the USSU Meeting
-Student council needs to be approached
4.5. What Stems from USSU Meeting:
-Will likely have trouble with adding the fee to tuition, regardless of the referendum results
1. Overview
2. Brief comment about ratification
3. Timeline
4. Working groups
1. Overview:
What we’re doing and how to do it (2 different ways to hold a referendum, what a PIRG is):
2 ways to call for a referendum:
1. Present a petition signed by 5% of all undergraduate students to the USC, who then vote on it. Majority vote plus one is required for referendum.
2. Take a proposal to the executives. They take it to the USC --> Requires 2/3 support from council
Referendum is held by a student vote. 10% of members need to vote, majority need to vote in favour.
2. Ratification:
We will be applying for ratification this week, as well as building and maintain solidarity with other campus clubs and student and community initiatives throughout the campaign.
3. Timeline:
We decided to talk to the USSU executive, start a petition, and approach the USC as soon as we feel prepared to do so.
4. Working Groups
We created 6 working groups:
Social Media – in charge of facebook page and twitter
Faculty – in charge of approaching faculty members
Art – in charge of the logo, handbills, posters, buttons, etc.
Campus Clubs – in charge of communicating with clubs on campus
Petition – in charge of creating a petition
Newspaper article – in charge of writing a newspaper article
Common Social Values to be promoted by Every Working Group:
1. Transparency
2. Inclusiveness
• Open-minded inclusiveness for all political party supporters and ideologies – non-partisan
• We are inclusive to those who act in support of/consistently with the views and intentions of PIRG.
3. Accountability
- Do what you say you will and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Mission Statement:
We are trying to establish a student-funded resource centre dedicated to social, environmental, and economic justice in the form of a Public Interest Research Group on the U of S campus.
Additional notes:
We hope to put more power in the hands of students, avoiding the limitations of the Student’s Union by establishing an entity that operates separately. We hope to serve as a healthy partner to the Students Union.
The next meeting will be held on Friday, January 25th at 4 PM in the STM Cafeteria.
We hope to have accomplished the following things:
1. Ratification
2. Draft of Petition
3. Talked to faculty members and some campus clubs about supporting the PIRG
4. Logo/handbills draft or finished product
Agenda:
1. What is going on?
2. Re-ratification
3. Elect new executive
4. Things needed for ratification
5. Referendum
What is going on?
Meeting with members from the Regina Public Interest Group (RPIRG) is November 9th at 3:00pm at the USSU Council Chambers. It is an open meeting so anyone interested can attend
Sustainability of our group is one of the topics we want to talk about along with strategy in continuing this initiative in the future
Things we can do to increase awareness of our group: Have an article written for the Sheaf and have a weekly or bimonthly meeting in the same spot on campus where we can have an open discussions
Last year the members started having discussions and established logistics on what needed to get to happen to get the group started. A referendum will be necessary
Re-ratification
We already have a constitution, and we will be putting it up on Facebook page soon
We want to improve our Facebook page, and post more community events - Sarah will be an administrator on the Facebook page
Elect new executive
President – Grace Schenher
Co-President – Sarah Johnson
Secretary - Alex Werenka
Treasurer – Seth Deuck
Things needed for ratification
Grace will contact a community group regarding the $100 ratification fee
We already have a bank account
We already have over 15 members for signatures
Referendum
Through the executive to USC (needs 2/3 approval). If it is approved, it will go to a student vote which will need a 10% quorum simple majority
Petition will need 5% of student body, and needs majority +1 vote with the USC then it will go to student vote which will need a 10% quorum simple majority. Dan will investigate who is on the USC so we can connect with them and see what their support will be like for our re-ratification - There are 25 members (depending on the route we take for re-ratification, we will either need 17 or 13 of their votes
Get in touch with faculty members who will be willing to, or have mentioned in the past that they would be willing to help and support our group
Should create a mission statement to facilitate “feeling” process on USC
Kota makes argument that the PIRG needs to be a political organization, and feels it should be accessible to graduate students
Next meeting: November 14, 2012 @ 5:00pm at Choices in St. Thomas More
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