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====== Trinity ConnPIRG ====== | ====== Trinity ConnPIRG ====== |
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Public Interest Research Groups, or PIRG, advocate for the public interest, including but not limited to: public health, democracy, economic reform, and climate solutions. The PIRG movement was founded in 1970 by Ralph Nader. At the college level, PIRGs help gain student awareness on a variety of topics. The structuring of a PIRG involves a hired team of professionals and experts who students work with to conduct research, educate the public, and interact directly with community groups, legislative bodies, and governmental agencies. Participating students can earn academic credit for their work with a PIRG. These groups are completely student funded and student run; the Trinity chapter is financed by $2 from each student’s Activities Fee per semester, unless they opt out. ConnPIRG was first conceived of in Fall 1972, and by Spring 1973 several Connecticut colleges and universities had successfully petitioned for the establishment of a PIRG at their institutions. By summer 1973, Trinity had contracted with the board and ConnPIRG became a financial reality. | [{{ ::connpirg.jpg?400|Trinity students pose with Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill during a Voter Registration Day event on the [[gates_quad|Gates Quad]] run by CONNPIRG in September 2019. Photo credit: CONNPIRG.}}] |
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| Public Interest Research Groups, or PIRG, advocate for the public interest, including but not limited to: public health, democracy, economic reform, and climate solutions. The PIRG movement was founded in 1970 by Ralph Nader. At the college level, PIRGs help raise student awareness on a variety of topics. The structuring of a PIRG involves a hired team of professionals and experts who students work with to conduct research, educate the public, and interact directly with community groups, legislative bodies, and governmental agencies. Participating students can earn academic credit for their work with a PIRG. These groups are completely student funded and student run (initially, the Trinity chapter was financed by $2 from each student’s Activities Fee per semester, unless they opted to receive a refund). The Connecticut Public Interest Research Group (ConnPIRG) was first conceived of in Fall 1972, and by Spring 1973 several Connecticut colleges and universities had successfully petitioned for the establishment of a PIRG at their institutions. By summer 1973, Trinity had contracted with its [[trustees|board]] and ConnPIRG became a financial reality. |
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Throughout the 1973-74 school year, Trinity ConnPIRG supported efforts to educate the public about toy safety, investigate phone installation charges, survey the checking account policies at local banks, and compile a directory of local medical practitioners. In 1975-76, ConnPIRG surveyed grocery prices in the area, provided Trinity students with free legal aid, surveyed sex discrimination in employment agencies, and studied Hartford’s public transportation. | Throughout the 1973-74 school year, Trinity ConnPIRG supported efforts to educate the public about toy safety, investigate phone installation charges, survey the checking account policies at local banks, and compile a directory of local medical practitioners. In 1975-76, ConnPIRG surveyed grocery prices in the area, provided Trinity students with free legal aid, surveyed sex discrimination in employment agencies, and studied [[hartford|Hartford’s]] public transportation. |
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An official Trinity ConnPIRG office was established in 1974. In October of that year, a Consumer Complaint Center headed by Steve Batson was set up within this office. The Center received any and all complaints regarding an article of purchase or service used. Trained operators would hear the complaints and then contact the salesmen, companies, and manufacturers involved, acting as “watchdogs” for the consumers of the Trinity area. In 1978, this service was expanded with a grant from the Comprehensive Employment Training Act to serve all residents of the Greater Hartford Area in providing consumer counseling. Beginning in 1975, the office also housed a lawyer retained by ConnPIRG who was on campus two hours per week to advise any students who wished to seek legal guidance. In April 1974, Ralph Nader visited Trinity to deliver a speech on the Quad, praising Trinity ConnPIRG for their work. | An official Trinity ConnPIRG office was established in 1974. In October of that year, a Consumer Complaint Center headed by Steve Batson was set up within that office. The Center received any and all complaints regarding an article of purchase or service used. Trained operators would hear the complaints and then contact the salesmen, companies, and manufacturers involved, acting as “watchdogs” for the consumers of the Trinity area. In 1978, this service was expanded with a grant from the Comprehensive Employment Training Act to serve all residents of the Greater Hartford Area in providing consumer counseling. Beginning in 1975, the office also housed a lawyer retained by ConnPIRG who was on [[summit_campus|campus]] two hours per week to advise any students who wished to seek legal guidance. In April 1974, Ralph Nader visited Trinity to deliver a speech on the Quad, praising Trinity ConnPIRG for their work. |
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Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Trinity ConnPIRG continued to engage in local and national political and social reform, including sponsoring sustainability initiatives, encouraging student voter registration by supporting SUAVE (Students United for Achieving Voter Education), lobbying legislative movements that affected student life, and raising awareness about hunger and homelessness. The Student Activities Fee was also raised to $5 to support the growth of the organization during this time. | Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Trinity ConnPIRG continued to engage in local and national political and social reform, including sponsoring sustainability initiatives, encouraging student voter registration by supporting SUAVE (Students United for Achieving Voter Education), lobbying legislative movements that affected student life, and raising awareness about hunger and homelessness. The Student Activities Fee was also raised to $5 to support the growth of the organization during this time. |
[[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/468|Trinity Tripod]], 2006-02-14. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/468|Trinity Tripod]], 2006-02-14. |
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[[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/432|Trinity Tripod]], 2004-10-26. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/446|Trinity Tripod]], 2005-02-01. |
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[[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/446|Trinity Tripod]], 2005-02-01. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/432|Trinity Tripod]], 2004-10-26. |
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[[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/365|Trinity Tripod]], 2001-10-23. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/365|Trinity Tripod]], 2001-10-23. |