Here is an update on PIRG Campus Action’s work at the University of Virginia this fall:
We helped get out the vote this semester! Before the election this November, we helped to register almost 100 students to vote, and helped more make plans to make sure they were really able to get out and vote on Election Day!
We continued our campaign to make textbooks more affordable! In partnership with student council and the library, we rolled out a survey on textbook prices, and we convinced dozens of professors to pledge to take affordability into account when assigning materials. The results of the survey will help us advocate for more affordable course materials.
Lastly, we ended our semester on a strong note with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. We collected 98 lbs of food to donate to the Blue Ridge Area Foodbank!
We got some great media coverage! We had three letters-to-the-editor published in local papers such as the Cavalier Daily and the Daily Progress about the need to make textbooks more affordable:
- Why OERs are a great first step towards education affordability | The Cavalier Daily
- Solution exists for overpriced textbooks | The Daily Progress
- Textbooks too costly; use technology instead | The Daily Progress
We’re so excited about all the things we were able to accomplish this semester and are looking forward to hitting the ground running next year!
Our campaigns next semester:
- Make Textbooks More Affordable
- End Hunger at UVA
Email [email protected] to apply for an internship for the coming semester!