OhioPIRG Campus Organizer, Oberlin College

Traditionally, students have stood on the front lines of social change. From the civil rights, anti-war, to gay rights movements, students have played a critical role. Ohio PIRG campus organizers tap student idealism and energy, and help student volunteers and activists turn their concerns into effective action. Campus organizers work on three to six campaigns in a semester, which could include: working to pass a clean energy bill in the state Legislature; increasing youth voter turnout in an upcoming election; or fighting hunger and homelessness in the local community. The role of a campus organizer is two-fold: achieve concrete social change and develop the next generation of leaders. Through this approach, campus organizers build the kind of power it takes to solve our country’s current problems while ensuring that legacy continues well into the future.

Responsibilities include:

• Organizing Projects And Campaigns: Campus organizers work on three to six projects or campaigns on their campuses, giving students an opportunity to solve pressing problems. Here are a few recent examples of victories from our campus chapters: At the University of Massachusetts, Campus Organizer Molly Chafetz and student leaders took on global warming. To make sure coal and oil companies aren’t the only ones influencing the debate, they pushed their state senator to step up and lead the way in passing what is now one of the strongest global warming laws in the country, which Gov. Deval Patrick signed in 2008. Molly and the UMass students organized numerous distict meetings and successful call-in days to help secure the senator’s leadership. At the University of Northern Iowa, Kathleen Cogan worked with student leaders during the presidential primaries to make sure that candidates campaigning in Iowa addressed issues that are important to young people. Her students spoke to nearly every presidential candidate. And at Evergreen State College, WashPIRG campus organizer Blair Anudson worked with students to get their campus to commit to buying 100 percent renewable energy, funded by a student fee.
• Educate students and train new leaders. Campus organizers play a critical role in informing the campus community about important public issues. They also work closely with student volunteers and leaders, teaching them the skills they need to make their voices heard. Organizers help students build expertise on the issues, learn how to conduct research, work with the media, recruit volunteers, build support among other groups, and influence decision-makers. Campus organizers also oversee internship programs, through which students can earn academic course credit for public interest research and advocacy.
• Build an organization. Campus organizers build active, cohesive and visible campus chapters that are recognized by faculty and student leaders as assets to the campus community. During the academic year, campus organizers learn to canvass door-to-door, and during the summer months, campus organizers run our highly effective citizen outreach campaigns.