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When first addressing the success of his campaign last November in Chicago, President Barack Obama said, "This victory truly belongs to you... It grew from young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy." At STLCC-Meramec, young people continue to push for political activism, supporting the president's call to reform the current legislative system. Students of Missouri Public Interest Research Group (MoPIRG), are banding together to positively change their community, as well as their nation, by tackling issues like poverty, health care, transportation, educationand global warming.
"Our goal is to increase awareness and pressure legislative action," said Katie Thomas, student organizer at Meramec. By gaining support from students, Thomas said MoPIRG can achieve anything. MoPIRG members work together to modify public well-being through extensive campaigning and promoting topical issues to foster awareness among the community.
This semester, MoPIRG will push for legislative action on a variety of public matters, including energy sustainability, a cleaner environment, and effective transportation systems for the St. Louis community.
"We need to develop clean, efficient transportation and spend our tax dollars wisely," said Thomas, who is leading Meramec students in a campaign for transportation reform. Thomas also said that because Meramec is a commuter college, students from everywhere in the Greater St. Louis area could benefit from high-speed rail and mass-transit systems of the 21st century.
Last November Proposition M, a bill that pushed for a slight tax increase for public transit in St. Louis, failed by a small margin. "Not enough people use public transportation when they can," said student Cody Williams of MoPIRG.
Interest groups will continue to push for Proposition M which would have given $80 million to Metro Link expansion, until next fall. "Grassroots pressure is what will pass this bill," Thomas said, "And we need to pass this bill now. If we wait, we lose."
The passing of Proposition M relies on congressmen who only have interests in receiving their "hero moment" and creating more jobs, Thomas said. "They bring home the bacon, but we want them to bring home greener systems for the environment."
MoPIRG is currently committed to the passing of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), a plan that intends to curtail 17 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
"MoPIRG has given a big contribution to this bill," said Williams, organizer of MoPIRG's Global Warming Campaign, which seeks to develop efficient energy systems through renewable resources.
"When ACES passes we will have a huge party," said Thomas, who is leading MoPIRG in collecting 2,000 signatures for democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
MoPIRG is open to all students, and if interested, students have the opportunity to receive three credit hours for their activism through an extensive internship program. Acceptance into the program is based on each student's experience as well as his or her interest in a particular political campaign. If chosen, the student will work through an independent study to organize projects for MoPIRG. "Interns make it happen," said Thomas.
By pressing for progressive legislation, students of MoPIRG have the opportunity to positively change their community. Said Williams, "MoPIRG is for the students, by the students."
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