tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46040168473864286912024-03-12T22:35:25.737-07:00Minnesota Public Interest Research GroupJosh Wintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07971219749009322479noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-12489770172620342652014-04-30T14:39:00.002-07:002014-04-30T14:40:31.726-07:00If You Have Plans This Friday Night, Cancel Them<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, you are going to Take Back the Night Twin Cities!
Lucky you!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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This Friday night (May 2), MPIRG and the Aurora Center for
Advocacy and Education are hosting a Take Back the Night event on the Coffman
Memorial Union plaza. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Starting at 6 p.m., there will be food, music, and awesome
people to mingle with. The event will be hosted by Sol Raz and there will be a
performance by local performance artist Sha Cage. Three slam poets will also
perform pieces. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFJtzVRzJs8/U2FtcqdR8eI/AAAAAAAAAHA/7bsoV219890/s1600/TBTN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFJtzVRzJs8/U2FtcqdR8eI/AAAAAAAAAHA/7bsoV219890/s1600/TBTN.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
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Then the main event: there will be a march down around
campus and down University Ave near Greek Row, followed by a candlelight vigil
and an open mic for survivors of sexual assault to share their experiences. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So what is Take Back the Night all about?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Take Back the Night Foundation was formed in 1999 by Katie Koestner,
but TBTN rallies and marches have been happening as early as the 70’s. The TBTN
movement has even led to international efforts. TBTN events are hosted in
cities throughout the country. <o:p></o:p></div>
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TBTN is an event of healing, compassion, and taking a stand
against sexual assault and intimate partner violence in all forms. This is a
chance to educate students about consent and sexual violence, as well as
celebrate healing and progress. Taking back the night means taking away the
fear and shame so many sexual assault victims face. <o:p></o:p></div>
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According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
(RAINN), one out of six American women has been the victim of attempted or
completed rape in her lifetime. Victims of sexual assault are six times more likely
to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 13 times more likely to abuse
alcohol, 26 times more likely to abuse drugs, and four times more likely to
contemplate suicide.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rape and sexual assault should never happen. MPIRG has been
partnering with the Aurora Center over the past year to create a consent
culture on the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities campus. Efforts have
included tabling to talk about consent with students and creating a video to be
used as part of the freshmen orientation curriculum. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual touching,
contact, or penetration, with or without threats or use of violence or force.
Consent is mutual, freely given, and not permanent. Consent cannot be given if
either party is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if either party is
asleep (I mean, duh!).<o:p></o:p></div>
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So we’ll see you at the U Friday night, ready to stand
against sexual violence and in solidarity with victims and survivors. Don’t be
late!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1418806461701407/?ref=22">Facebook event</a>!<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shonna Korsmoe</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Communications Intern</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-6635943820665481432014-04-15T10:21:00.000-07:002014-04-15T10:21:40.617-07:00Preferred Name Victory! <div class="MsoNormal">
Imagine it is the first day of class and the professor is
giving out roll call. When he gets to your last name on the list, he calls out
a different first name. After a moment of silent confusion, you call out that
that is your last name, but you go by a different first name. Students turn
around in their seats to look at you, and you have to quickly explain why your
name on the roll call sheet is not the name you go by. Awkward, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the University of Minnesota, scores of students
experience this at the beginning of every semester. Students whose legal name
reflects a different gender than the one they identify as, international
students who go by a name that is easier for American professors to pronounce,
or students who simply choose to go by their middle name all have to run the
proverbial gauntlet of explaining why their legal name is not what their
friends and families call them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This can be an extremely uncomfortable experience. It can
cause anxiety, and for some students, essentially force them to out themselves
to their professors or classmates. This is an unnecessary experience, so
MPIRG’s Equality Task Force decided to do something about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spearheaded by Ross Anders, the UMTC Equality Task Force
leader, the task force undertook a mission to get a preferred name option on
University documents and roll call sheets. Last fall, task force members met
with registrar officials to begin a conversation about adding a preferred name
option to relieve anxiety and difficult experiences for so many students.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Over the past several months, the task force collected 2,034
signatures on a petition to add a preferred name option and spent over 70 hours
tabling and talking to students around campus about why this is such an
important issue. They also had student groups and department heads sign 24
formal support letters. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All of these grassroots measures made a huge difference.
Earlier this month, registrar officials confirmed to MPIRG that starting in
early 2015, there will be a preferred name option on class rosters and grading
rosters. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a huge victory for MPIRG! Congratulations to Ross
and the hardworking Equality Task Force for their efforts in seeing this
through!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shonna Korsmoe</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Communications Intern</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-14088816766947431112014-03-13T11:16:00.000-07:002014-03-13T12:12:37.195-07:00Minimum Wage Rage! <div class="MsoNormal">
Step 1: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/09/opinion/minimum-wage.html?_r=0">Click here</a> and follow the instructions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Step 2: Ask yourself the following question: Can you live on
minimum wage?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the answer to that question was yes or maybe, take into
consideration that this calculator is for a single person without children.
What if you had a child, or several? What if you had a partner who couldn't
work because of health issues, or what if you yourself had health issues? How
would you make ends meet? How, on $7.25 an hour, would you buy food, gas,
clothes, and still save for emergencies? For most of us, it is simply
impossible. The minimum wage in Minnesota (currently sitting at $6.15 per hour,
below the federal rate) is unrealistic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Still not convinced? According to the chart below, a Minnesotan working at minimum wage would have to work 86 hours per week to
afford a standard two-bedroom apartment. That breaks down to working 12+ hours
a day, seven days a week. In fact, there is no state in which an individual
working minimum wage can work 40 hours a week and still afford a standard
two-bedroom apartment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHC9PVMd-I8/UyHy9Au66eI/AAAAAAAAAFc/YypBpp66NrY/s1600/min_wage_housing_-_776.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHC9PVMd-I8/UyHy9Au66eI/AAAAAAAAAFc/YypBpp66NrY/s1600/min_wage_housing_-_776.png" height="345" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since the start of the 2014 MN legislative session, the
House and Senate have been engaged in negotiations on HF 92, a bill that would
raise the minimum wage for large businesses to $9.50 per hour and implement an
inflation index. This index would raise the wage each year by either the
consumer price index or by 2.5 percent, depending on which option is lower. In
Minnesota, minimum wage has not been increased in eight years. In 2006, the
price of gas was about $0.50 cheaper. It’s time to raise the wage and prevent
the need for legislative battles on this issue in the future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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According to MN Raise the Wage! coalition, if an index had
been implemented when Minnesota passed its first minimum wage in 1975 ($1.80),
the wage today would be approximately $9.50 and the argument would be obsolete.
As the price of life’s necessities rises, so to should the living wage of
Minnesota’s hard workers. It just makes sense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ideals aside, here’s where we're sitting in the debate. Senate
Majority Leader Tom Bakk has been quoted in MinnPost and the Pioneer Press
adamantly arguing that the Senate would not pass a bill with an index. To
further complicate things, the Senate negotiators have proposed more wage tiers
such as a youth (below 18) rate of $7.25 per hour. They also argue that the new
minimum wage should take effect in 2016 instead of 2015, as the House
originally wanted. The House has conceded to a 2016 start date for the $9.50 wage,
but remains adamant the compromise include an inflation index that will take
effect in 2017. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bottom line: without indexing, the value of the minimum wage
erodes each year. Working at minimum wage, college students, families, and
workers struggle to stay above the poverty line. In a reality where the cost of
gas, groceries, rent, and other basic necessities rises each year, it’s time
that our minimum wage reflects those changes and rises with inflation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shonna Korsmoe<br />
Communications Intern</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-20293297018468195512014-02-25T14:14:00.001-08:002014-02-25T14:14:37.490-08:00Power Up! Solar Energy Policies in Minnesota: An Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">According to an encouraging report
from the Solar Foundation released this month, solar energy jobs are up 73%
since September 2012. This means 360 new employees were hired by the solar
industry.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0f5D0LVtzg/Uw0U6ugTTbI/AAAAAAAAAFA/6-Ep78ZO7i8/s1600/solar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0f5D0LVtzg/Uw0U6ugTTbI/AAAAAAAAAFA/6-Ep78ZO7i8/s1600/solar.jpg" /></a></div>
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This increase in new hires is
attributed to solar energy laws passed by the Minnesota legislature last
spring. One new policy states that Minnesota energy companies must use solar
power for 1.5% of their electricity needs by 2020. Companies like Xcel Energy,
which produces around half of the state’s electricity, have their work cut out
for them. Over the next six years, they must create and implement plans that
work toward more renewable and earth-friendly energy sources, namely solar
power. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Another policy passed by the
legislature last year was a community solar energy law. This law requires Xcel
Energy to create a program in Minnesota for community members, be they
individuals, businesses, congregations, schools, etc., to participate in the
creation of a solar garden. As Fresh Energy points out in their critique of
Xcel’s proposed plan, solar gardens are high in cost and require specific
qualification to be effective (specifications such as direction, amount of
shade, and square footage).<o:p></o:p></div>
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A community solar garden would
allow individuals or businesses to “subscribe” to the garden by paying for a
portion. They would then receive credit for their subscription on their energy
bills in proportion to their ownership. The details and guidelines for member
subscription are laid out in the text of the law.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last September, Xcel submitted its
draft plan for the program to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review
and possible revision. On Tuesday, February 18 the PUC heard testimony on the
draft and deliberations took place on the following Thursday. The PUC has
indicated that it would likely reject Xcel’s proposal to limit the number of
community solar gardens that could be installed. They also voted to increase
the electricity rate originally sought by Xcel Energy and it said the company
must pay for renewable energy credits associated with the solar gardens. An
official decision will be made sometime this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Contrary to the state Department of
Commerce’s own remarks on their website that there will be “no limit on the
number of community solar projects that can be developed,” Xcel’s proposal will
put a quarterly cap on projects for the first two years. According to Fresh
Energy and Midwest Energy News, several experts believe that this limit will
push smaller or mid-sized projects to the wayside, as the rush to submit a
project proposal before the cap would most likely see only large, well-funded
projects succeed. Xcel argues that the reason for this initial limitation is to
allow for a learning curve and the update of Xcel’s technology to accommodate
the virtual meter readings of solar gardens.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Xcel is already running a similar
project in Colorado that has had success. However, critics of Xcel’s
proposed plan have pointed out that the fees Xcel will charge solar garden
subscribers is significantly higher than the fees charged in Colorado.
Furthermore, the subscribers in Colorado earn more cents per kilowatt-hour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Although most agree that Xcel’s
plan is a positive step forward, it seems Xcel is not following the letter of
the law as closely as it should. Solar energy is about to take center stage in
Minnesota, and Xcel should revise its plan to be more accommodating and fair to
those who wish to participate in this new initiative.</span></div>
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Shonna Korsmoe<br />
MPIRG Communications Intern<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-63762963583903510762013-12-04T10:24:00.003-08:002013-12-04T10:24:55.738-08:00Just Ask!<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes means yes and no means no. This is not only true when
we’re talking about consent culture but true in every aspect of our lives. But
what do we mean when we say consent culture? Consent culture is the basis of
human interaction and is in no way limited to sexual activities. It comprises
all interactions through communication. It is approval, it is permission, and
it is agreement. Most importantly, there are absolutely no blurred lines when
it comes to consent. Again, it is either a yes or a no.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, I will focus on what consent culture is in terms of
sexual relationships. According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
(RAINN), someone in the US is assaulted every 2 minutes, 60% of sexual assaults
are unreported and approximately 2/3 of rapes are committed by someone the
victim knows. Campaigns and education around consent culture helps to decrease
these numbers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbqdaNMcWFw/Up9zU4UFCeI/AAAAAAAAADs/ovjGYkZvZBo/s1600/consent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbqdaNMcWFw/Up9zU4UFCeI/AAAAAAAAADs/ovjGYkZvZBo/s320/consent.png" width="247" /></a>Consent culture and activism surrounding the topic has
become a popular topic of discussion particularly among college students. Through education, activists hope to expand
the conversation and understanding of what consent really means. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Currently, the Feminist Initiatives Task Force at Saint
Catherine University is exploring options for what would be the first consent
workshop on campus. They are looking into workshops held around the country to
see what works best and how to best utilize these techniques to fit St. Kate’s
audience. The Task Force is working to implement the workshop during first year
orientation. During first year orientation universities tend to focus on their
adopted values and practices as an institution. Incorporating consent culture
workshops into the orientations will help new students understand the
importance of consent and also prepare them to advocate for consent culture throughout
their daily lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While we’ve been hearing more about Consent Culture these
days, it is crucial to understand and encourage simply communicating that message
to the student body year after year. Consent is sexy and is a topic that
everyone should embrace! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simge Okut</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MPIRG Communications Intern</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-50980629029500820672013-11-25T12:01:00.000-08:002013-11-25T12:01:09.989-08:00GOTV Works! <div class="MsoNormal">
For years, voting was seen as a privilege not a right. In
the United States today, after much struggle, voting is a right. However, that
doesn’t always mean everyone has the same level of awareness that an election
is taking place. Every election year, it's on MPIRG's to remind them,
many, many times. That’s how it works!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Starting with phase one (Welcome Week until the last day of
pre-registration), the UMTC chapter held tabling events and clip boarded throughout
both Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses including residence halls and classrooms
to register and pledge students to vote in the 2013 Municipal Elections.
Municipal Elections tend to slip through the cracks of the schedules of young
people. So the registration and the pledging act as a first point of contact. The
educational events, Voterpalooza and the Mayoral Candidate Forum, served as
second and third points of contact and brought Elected Officials and candidates
to campus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-97a2qka21-o/UpOrXoote_I/AAAAAAAAADY/L-ETCM6DYR4/s1600/GOTV+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-97a2qka21-o/UpOrXoote_I/AAAAAAAAADY/L-ETCM6DYR4/s1600/GOTV+image.jpg" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
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Phase two consisted of data entry. So much data entry. It
was a necessary, albeit tedious, phase of the process. Enough said on that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After entering the data from the collected pledge cards,
MPIRG – UMTC entered phase three, Get Out The Vote! Beginning with phone banking,
MPIRGers called everyone that registered and pledged to vote as a reminder of
the upcoming elections, information on the new voting system ranked choice
voting, and a personal poll finder. That was point of contact number four. The week before
the election, the pledge cards (which doubled as post cards) were sent back
with the addition of their polling locations as point of contact number five. A
couple days before the election, students had a visibility day where they
chalked and posted flyers all over campus. The day before, they knocked on
thousands of dorm doors and had in person conversations and voting. Those were
points of contact six and seven. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, Election Day arrived. 26 volunteers went out to
Dinky Town and Como neighborhoods to knock doors with voter information. Here
are some statistics of the successful election process:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 58.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->MPIRG registered and pledged number of 2619.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 58.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In total, MPIRG – TC knocked on 4,641 doors and
talked to 1,619 people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 58.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->As a result, compared to the 2009 Municipal
elections, <b>the voter turnout in the
student neighborhoods tripled this year</b>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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The numbers speak for themselves. GOTV works!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simge Okut</div>
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MPIRG Communications Intern </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-67543545561569777942013-10-24T11:06:00.001-07:002013-10-24T11:06:19.339-07:00Book Swap!Simge Okut<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Besides the benefits of a higher
education, there is something else everyone can agree on: attending college is
expensive. From tuition to living expenses, the cost that comes with an education
puts more than a dent in the wallets of students. Outside the obvious price of
tuition, most students are surprised by the additional cost of textbooks. According
to the College Board reports, the average cost of books and supplies for the
2012-2013 academic year was $1,200 on top of tuition.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Additionally, studies show that the
already high price of textbooks is on the rise. An article published by
Michelle Jamrisko and Ilan Komlet in Bloomberg states that the college textbook
expenses have more than doubled since the end of 2001. </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uj61VKr6kX8/UmlflNgWFGI/AAAAAAAAACY/w74a9-h3EEo/s1600/Book+Swap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uj61VKr6kX8/UmlflNgWFGI/AAAAAAAAACY/w74a9-h3EEo/s640/Book+Swap.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Although options like buying online, renting and purchasing
digital forms of the textbooks are more cost-efficient alternatives to bookstores;
they don’t solve the problem completely. To bring forward another option for students, MPIRG's UMTC Corporate Accountability Task Force is
working on a book swap project in collaboration with the Minnesota Student
Association. The book swap will work as a platform for students to exchange
books and compare prices to other sources simply by entering the class name
and/or the ISBN number of the particular book. The website may also feature a
section dedicated to searching available housing options or subleases.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As the website approaches completion,
MPIRG will focus on promoting its’ launch. The current timeline for the project
has the website up and running around winter break allowing the students to
utilize it for the spring semester. There
will be Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages devoted to endorsing the campaign
as well as advertisements to student groups and flyers around campus. The
more students that participate in the project, the more successful it will be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Currently
the University of Minnesota has a page on Facebook for students to buy and sell
textbooks but this campaign will take that to the next level. More people will
know about it and it will be easily accessible to those who are not a part of
the Facebook group. The website will provide an alternative to the bookstore
that will ideally cut down on some of the “extra” expenses that accompany
tuition. Although it’s not going to fully eliminate the cost of textbooks, it
will help bring down burden of extra payments at a considerable rate. As a
student myself, I’m looking forward to using this website as the main way to
exchange my textbooks. </div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-88407787364747456832013-10-21T11:53:00.000-07:002013-10-21T12:05:15.751-07:00Names Matter! <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">Simge Okut</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 200%;">Our
birth names are not always the best way to describe who we are. Since names shape our first
impressions, it is important to identify with a name. If the given name is not
suitable for someone, one option is to legally change that title. However,
there is simpler solution for those in a college environment. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Duluth and Morris MPIRG Chapters are working on a campaign to help promote a learning environment that
is comfortable and safe for all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="http://bellaireumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/hello_nametag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://bellaireumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/hello_nametag.jpg" width="320" /></a> The
Preferred Name Policy Campaign is working to provide students and staff with the
power to modify their names on class rosters. Although this is not equal to a
legal alteration, it will give the opportunity to those who don’t want their
legal names to be the first identifying component of who they are. There isn’t one
particular group that will benefit from this change. Everyone including
trans-identified, international students, divorced, recently married and others
who simply want to be called something else for various reasons will benefit. Students won’t have to explain what they would preferred to be called, professors won’t have to worry about misusing anyone’s name and the Registrar’s office will have the control over which
changes can be deemed as inappropriate or misleading. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
This
is kind of change is not an entirely new idea. It only requires a software
update to include a panel for faculty and students to access in order to change
their names. University of Michigan, Princeton University, Stony Brook
University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Wisconsin – Madison
and The University of Vermont are only a few of the universities that currently
allow students and faculty to make such adjustments. The university documents
that are affected from the Preferred Name Policy differ according to the
software a university uses. While some can only make a change on the roster,
some go as far as unofficial transcripts and student cards. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: inherit;">The University of Minnesota takes pride in diversity and strong
community. Reflecting on that, MPIRG chapters at U of M Twin Cities, Duluth and
Morris are collaborating to advocate for this important change. In a campus as
big as University of Minnesota, it is crucial that everyone feels comfortable
with who they are within the community. Preferred Names Policy takes us one
step closer to maintaining that objective.<span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4604016847386428691" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-166459035626558942013-10-10T14:02:00.002-07:002013-10-10T14:02:26.870-07:00A Call to Fraternities -- Recycling those cups! <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: .25in;">
The students at
the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities have shown a growing interest in Greek
Life. The Greek System is comprised of about 2,000 students. Fraternities alone
have almost 1,200 active members. The numbers speak for themselves and the
growing interest in Greek Life is noticeable.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">In a system that
includes this many students they undeniably play an important role in student
society. Not only do they have the ability to influence campus culture but the environment
as well. The Environment and Sustainability Task Force at the MPIRG Twin Cities
Chapter has been working on a campaign to improve sustainable practices with
Greek Life and the UMTC campus as a whole. </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://popdust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/usa-olympics-slideshow-red-solo-cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://popdust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/usa-olympics-slideshow-red-solo-cup.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
The Fraternity
Recycling campaign is working to develop an easy way to implement a recycling
system into each house. Fraternity houses produce a large amount of recyclable
goods each week and ensuring those goods are recycled will divert a huge amount
of “waste” from landfills and incinerators. The task force is focusing on a
grassroots approach and working to get each house to buy in to a recycling
program.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Similar
initiatives have sprung up on other universities across the country. For
example, University of Michigan enacted “The Trust for Cups Campaign” and
“Recyclemania” with great success. Besides Michigan, University of Virginia,
Penn State, UC Berkeley and University of Texas have demonstrated efforts to
turn the Greek Community into a green community. While a few of the initiatives
were structured by outside organizations, some of them were started by members
within the Greek Community.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">According to
statistics provided by “The Trust for Cups Campaign”, houses within the Inter
Fraternal Council (IFC) consumed 40,000 single use cups weekly and 96% of their
trash could have been recycled on any given weekend. These numbers are staggering
and add up in a hurry!</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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One thing is clear;
implementation of a Fraternity Recycling Program has huge potential for positive
change for the campus and community at large. The campaign sees the Greek
system a as leader on campus. As an influential entity, prioritizing
sustainability will undoubtedly have a ripple effect within the student body.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
- Simge Okut<br />
Communication Intern<br />
MPIRG UMTCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-76122570717506785652013-08-13T11:24:00.000-07:002013-08-13T11:24:41.531-07:00Minneapolis Energy Options: The 411<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZgXUABGU3o/Ugp3GLCs2sI/AAAAAAAAABQ/GPXfcYiUrEk/s1600/MeanGirls411.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZgXUABGU3o/Ugp3GLCs2sI/AAAAAAAAABQ/GPXfcYiUrEk/s1600/MeanGirls411.png" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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There’s been a lot of buzz around Minneapolis about the
city, our utilities, and a coalition called Minneapolis Energy Options – of
which MPIRG is a member. Right now, the City of Minneapolis has an exclusive
agreement called a “franchise agreement,” that means that, for the last 20
years, Xcel has been the only electric utility provider in Minneapolis –
Minneapolis residents have to get their electricity from Xcel. In 2014, that
contract will be up, and the next steps that Minneapolis takes will be
critical.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Minneapolis Energy Options Campaign formed in an effort to make
sure that Minneapolis explores all possible options for our energy future –
that we have the information and choices to get what we deserve as a city from
our power source – whether that be with Xcel, a community energy provider, or
another option.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8PBO5fhTXI/UgpzZVcDyGI/AAAAAAAAAA4/eIlVVBftMHY/s1600/mission+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8PBO5fhTXI/UgpzZVcDyGI/AAAAAAAAAA4/eIlVVBftMHY/s1600/mission+(1).jpg" /></a>So Minneapolis Energy Options set out to have the crucial conversations
with our neighbors about our energy future, knocking on 55,000 doors in the
city, and carrying the messages we heard about corporate accountability and
green energy to the City Council.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The City Council, the Mayor and Xcel have heard our voices. In
the past few days, Xcel has committed to helping the city reach our climate
goals, and, among other goals,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to
power the City’s streetlights with renewable energy, and to make a solar
investment at Xcel’s Riverside plant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the work isn’t done – we have to work to hold Xcel
accountable to these commitments, and to go further. Xcel would not have come
to the table in this way without public pressure and the city exploring all its
options. We need to continue to apply that pressure, and show Xcel that we have
other options if they won't agree to provide Minneapolis with the clean, affordable, reliable, local
energy we deserve.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.minneapolisenergyoptions.org/call_your_city_council_member"><b>Call your city council member today</b></a> and ask them to adopt an
energy framework going into negotiations that protects the interests of
Minneapolis citizens, to complete the negotiations by June of 2014, and to keep
our options open during the state legislative session so we can continue to
make strides towards a better energy future. Tell them you’re happy Xcel is
stepping up to the plate, but that we can all do more to create a greener, more
affordable, better future for Minneapolis. Tell them that options are so fetch. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos from minneapolisenergyoptions.org and the film Mean Girls</span></div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-43143728733932430922013-08-01T13:41:00.002-07:002013-08-01T13:41:55.032-07:00Procuring a Sweatshop Free Future<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWIIB0WVPm4/UfrGr2zHiPI/AAAAAAAAABU/w7m023aR6Kg/s1600/MPIRG+Lift+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWIIB0WVPm4/UfrGr2zHiPI/AAAAAAAAABU/w7m023aR6Kg/s1600/MPIRG+Lift+Bridge.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">This past spring, the UMD Chapter of MPIRG began a campaign
that would ensure that all uniform, apparel, and footwear purchases by the city
of Duluth would be sweatshop free. The campaign was instituted through our membership
in the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition with the collaboration of its director,
Josh Wise. We have made great headway on
the topic of procurement by the city of Duluth, basing our efforts on
successful ordinance adoption in cities and states across the country through
the assistance of the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium. The Consortium, which we are urging the city
of Duluth to join, is a national membership organization for public entities
seeking to purchase products made under fair labor conditions and provides
policy tools, vendor and manufacturer reviews, and other resources to aid
public entities in purchasing sweatshop free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Efforts thus far have involved meeting with the city of
Duluth’s purchasing agent, city councilors, and the Mayor’s office, to bring
attention to this lack of oversight in purchasing and to provide effective ways
to ensure that future purchases adhere to sweatshop free standards. To build
community support we have started a citizen petition drive, developed an
organizational endorsement strategy, and have held one of two public forums on
the topic of creating a sweatshop free procurement policy for city purchases.
Local supporters include the Duluth Central Labor Body and the North East Area
Labor Council with additional endorsements expected through the month of
August. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-JCcEDpMBg/UfrHKdwg6DI/AAAAAAAAABg/mALLayb1FB8/s1600/Sweatfree+Forum+Josh-Roger-Al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-JCcEDpMBg/UfrHKdwg6DI/AAAAAAAAABg/mALLayb1FB8/s320/Sweatfree+Forum+Josh-Roger-Al.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaker Al LaFrenier takes a question during our public forum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">This work on the municipal level is one small piece of an
international movement to better the working conditions of those in the apparel
industry and to dis-incentivize manufacturers from utilizing sweatshop
conditions. Through this action, the
city of Duluth will join Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Austin, Santa Fey, and many
more public entities on the moral high ground of taking an ethical stance
against supporting sweatshops. Purchasing sweatshop goods unknowingly through a
contracted vendor is not an excuse our governments can hide behind. The resources and expertise are available and
willing to aid them in making better decisions and we are leading the charge in
showing them how.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Steve Wick</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Campus Organizer, UMD </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-90350777667208927792013-07-25T09:03:00.001-07:002013-07-25T09:03:30.584-07:00 MPIRG: Fighting for environmental, economic, and social justice... one tomato at a time.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OJvN37EMgM/UfFLFfgSWKI/AAAAAAAAAA8/UruYspHylkI/s1600/jalapeno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OJvN37EMgM/UfFLFfgSWKI/AAAAAAAAAA8/UruYspHylkI/s200/jalapeno.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of many!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Over the last few decades, we have grown more distant from the food we eat everyday; it is grown in places we have never been, harvested by people we have never met, and processed with chemical names we cannot pronounce. Entangled amongst large and overbearing issues, our current industrial food process has deep-reaching roots into social injustices and environmental harm. In making strides towards social, environmental, and economic justice we must re-evaluate our food: how our food is grown; how it is transported; how it is sold; and how different demographics experience varying levels of access to that food. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-443c2441-1687-64de-46a1-de5d0177f51b" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--8Q-dji7B1Q/UfFLKOOJjLI/AAAAAAAAABE/7L8g2ouYxcI/s1600/planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--8Q-dji7B1Q/UfFLKOOJjLI/AAAAAAAAABE/7L8g2ouYxcI/s320/planting.jpg" width="234" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Students planting the garden in June.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">We are all participants in this food economy and we all have the power to create real and lasting change in our food system, further alleviating issues of social injustices, environmental degradation, and economic inequalities. A group of MPIRG students in Duluth have begun to dig their hands into the impacts of large-scale agriculture by connecting with the soil in their own community. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The MPIRG students at the University of Minnesota Duluth are participating in the UMD Edible Garden Project to enrich their hands-on experience growing food and to strengthen their knowledge of sustainable food habits, while also building a sense of community over the summer months when most classes are not in progress. The garden is currently filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, onion, beans, chives, basil, oregano, rosemary, dill, and mint. In the fall, the UMD chapter will host workshops on canning and provide opportunities for students to share and try out new recipes. Students at the University of Minnesota Duluth are urging their campus dining center to take a more active role towards sustainable, healthy food distribution. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The summer weather in Duluth may soon be approaching its transition into the nine-month winter, but the experiences with the Edible Garden Project will have lasting impacts. Through the MPIRG Garden and workshops, the UMD Chapter can help students in their community make educated decisions on food choices. At 10 feet by 30 feet, the garden appears small in size; however, its message is much greater—we need equitable and sustainable access to affordable healthy options that create a strong, local economy void of exploitation of both people and the environment.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Mariana Glitsos</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">MPIRG Summer Intern, Former State Board of Directors Vice-Chair</span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-58948322060858788592013-06-20T09:32:00.000-07:002013-06-20T09:32:18.210-07:00Special Delegates Keep Us Honest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVMSWcQMrpI/UcMtvPvqQMI/AAAAAAAAABE/pTcPYa-yro8/s1600/Jeff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVMSWcQMrpI/UcMtvPvqQMI/AAAAAAAAABE/pTcPYa-yro8/s200/Jeff.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
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What does it take to hold a diverse
organization together? <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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Take
a look at the MPIRG Board of Directors, and you'll see all manner of titles
aside the names of its members. They denote special duties: some express the
responsibility of bringing certain perspectives within MPIRG to the Board.
These delegates ensure that all MPIRG students have their voices heard in our
organization -- they bring MPIRG's chapters closer together. But if MPIRG aims
to represent Minnesotans, especially students, who come from different
communities, backgrounds, and political persuasions, where do they get their
voice on the Board? <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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Look
again, and you'll see Board Members with the title of “Special Delegate”, who
are appointed to add diversity or important skills to the Board and make sure
the voices of as many communities are heard on the Board as possible. As an SD,
I see the role of the position going beyond being a “token”. Because MPIRG aims
to speak for Minnesotans in all communities, it is necessary to have people in
positions of influence who keep the organization thinking about how the
policies we champion could impact other Minnesotans. Activism needs enthusiasm,
and in our excitement we often can forget to ask community leaders, neighbors,
and opponents how the policies we want will impact their lives. This is how we
create allies, and leave the shelter of our campuses. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">With a board diverse in color, background, and
ideology, we can meet our neighbors on equal terms. Whether special delegates
are people of color, LGBTQIA, working-class, conservatives, nontraditional
students, or from out-of-state, I think our ultimate role is to keep MPIRG
honest by ensuring its work is supported – and critiqued – through as many
lenses as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">Jeff Garcia</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Special Delegate to the Board of Directors </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-59191658988948760972013-06-06T10:34:00.003-07:002013-06-06T10:34:32.698-07:00The Opacity Epidemic and What It Means for Your Campaign<b id="docs-internal-guid-1dda2e33-1a89-7477-d86c-805cb21eeb18" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1dda2e33-1a89-7477-d86c-805cb21eeb18" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vvkNr4ZPadU/UbDIAtKppcI/AAAAAAAAAJE/G7pWsgnCnds/s1600/divest.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vvkNr4ZPadU/UbDIAtKppcI/AAAAAAAAAJE/G7pWsgnCnds/s320/divest.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1dda2e33-1a89-7477-d86c-805cb21eeb18" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Particularly with the momentum surrounding Bill McKibben’s 350.org, divestment campaigns have captured fire, the idea being that colleges are community leaders that can both send a message and disempower companies by withdrawing their investments from them.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1dda2e33-1a89-7477-d86c-805cb21eeb18" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m sure no one will take issue if I use Harvard as an example of a university that also serves as a community leader. In a recent vote that around half their undergraduate student body participated in, 72% supported the demand that Harvard, who holds the largest endowment in the country at $31 billion, divest from fossil fuel companies.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite what seems to be a strong majority of students supporting this measure, a Harvard spokesperson responded to the vote saying, “Harvard is not considering divesting from companies related to fossil fuels.” That’s right: A community leader on the order of Harvard University, despite student demand, refuses to even consider divestment.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s bring things back home to our very own University of Minnesota, whose endowment is less than a tenth of Harvard’s. UMN invests in around 100 different funds, many of which invest in other funds and hundreds of companies and many of which are entirely private. The answer to “where does all the money go?” is inherently opaque and nigh on incomprehensible, and with many private higher education institutions, you’ll often be denied access to their portfolio altogether.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many successful student campaigns are driven by knowledge of systems and students doing the legwork in providing alternatives. In divestment, these are both impossibilities. A battle that could precede divestment may involve curing the epidemic of lack of access to behind the scenes workings of higher education institutions. Either way, good luck. You’ll need it.</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joey Daniewicz, MPIRG Board of Directors</span></b>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-14673124215498471412013-06-04T09:49:00.001-07:002013-06-04T09:59:26.803-07:00How Knocking on Doors Opens Doors<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ACjr5mNL2d0/Ua4ahMBJBPI/AAAAAAAAAI0/vP9vbu-KgTU/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ACjr5mNL2d0/Ua4ahMBJBPI/AAAAAAAAAI0/vP9vbu-KgTU/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a world where apathy is seemingly unavoidable, community organizing can seem daunting at best and downright impossible at times. Canvassers are tasked with the challenge of knocking on a stranger’s door, engaging them in a dialogue about an injustice, and (here’s the hard part) empowering them to actually DO something. These Organizers look people in the eyes, and dare them to put their money where their mouth is. If that sounds a little audacious, that’s because it is. It’s audacious in the best way. </span></b></b></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is that audacity that holds people accountable to taking action on their beliefs. </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my own experience knocking doors for two years, I realized that generally people wanted and needed someone to call them on their inaction. They respect that kind of frankness, and genuinely thanked me for my work. What was also apparent is that most people aren’t actually apathetic; they feel frustrated and powerless in a system that seemingly reinforces big money while ignoring the little guy. Words can’t describe how incredibly empowering it is to walk away from a door and know that just by being there and believing in what you say, you have changed the directions of someone’s thoughts. You’ve reversed a natural tendency to do nothing and sparked a belief in people power which becomes exponential. It’s the kind of experience that gives you the chills. </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A good canvass develops in its organizers a courage of conviction that lights a fire. The communication skill they master in a matter of weeks is just the cherry on top. I’m talking about an intangible confidence that builds the kind of character that has fueled the grassroots movement throughout history. These characters influenced by this work include the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Wellstone, and even Barack Obama. </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will knocking on doors make you President of the United States? Statistically, it probably won’t, but the point is it could! What’s certain is it opens doors, literally ALL kinds of doors. You will be pushed outside your comfort zone in every way possible. Most incredibly, you will learn to ask for what you want and mean it, and that makes you powerful. </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-187569de-100e-3ce1-f36c-9f29db2a0929" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sarah Casper, Metro Campus Organizer</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Photo credit: MNDaily 11.2.2013
Pictured: Magda Bilska, MPIRG Field Canvass Director talks with a student in Dinkytown</i></span></b>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-18918657045700244822013-05-30T13:23:00.000-07:002013-05-30T13:23:27.177-07:00Got Student Loans? Get Ready to Pay More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhQ0bMiEiYE/Uaer43XB_cI/AAAAAAAAAIk/lvi87YI5358/s1600/RATES.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhQ0bMiEiYE/Uaer43XB_cI/AAAAAAAAAIk/lvi87YI5358/s400/RATES.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you were able to graduate from college without taking out
student loans, consider yourself very lucky. About 60% of students graduate
from college having taken out loans, meaning that right now, there are about 37
million Americans with outstanding student loans. With a federal average of $27,000 graduating debt, many Americans are looking at years – decades – of paying
off their loans, which means that interest rates matter. So we should all be concerned that interest rates on
federally subsidized student loans are about to double. </div>
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<br /></div>
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If
Congress doesn’t take action before the July 1<sup>st</sup> deadline, Stafford
Loan interest rates will rise from 3.4% to 6.8%, leaving many graduating
college students with higher monthly payments over the course of their loan. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Higher loan payments mean less financial freedom for
millions of Americans. It makes it harder to make car payments, pay off credit
cards, and to participate fully in the economy. Supporting the economic
recovery by purchasing a house, or buying necessities, or going back to school
is made impossible when we are dealing with staggering loan payments.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Luckily, there is great political will to address this
problem – it’ll just be a matter of agreeing on how. Several proposals have
been made by both parties, including one that lowers the rate to 0.75% for one
year. The plan garnering the most support now allows the interest
rate to fluctuate with the market, though it would be capped at 6.8%. This plan
is co-sponsored by both of our U.S. Senators, and the House version has the
support of many of our U.S. Representatives.</div>
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There are many more questions to be answered. Will the rate
be fixed, or fluctuate over the life of the loan? Should the government have
more influence over the rate fluctuation? It is encouraging to see both
sides of the aisle interested in addressing the ever-growing problem of student
debt. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We thank our Minnesota Delegation for their leadership on this critical issue. Call your Congressmen today and thank them for <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>supporting students and graduates in Minnesota and making a higher education a more realistic possibility for millions</div>
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Erin Hocking, Metro Campus Organizer</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-74740462370786428082013-05-10T10:47:00.001-07:002013-05-10T10:47:24.051-07:00Health Care Fridays: Final Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oqNGpeTz0qg/UY0yBNVCjZI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/DkXoMS59cS8/s1600/MARY.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oqNGpeTz0qg/UY0yBNVCjZI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/DkXoMS59cS8/s200/MARY.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
I am Mary Einspahr, HECUA intern for MPIRG this semester and University of Minnesota- Twin Cities chapter member focusing on health care. I care about this issue because I believe that healthcare is a human right.</div>
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The Minnesota Health Plan is a single payer healthcare reform bill for our state that would cover 100% of Minnesotans. Single payer is health care in which all payments are under one health plan rather than over 250 for-profit insurance companies. There are many myths about single payer. For those past several weeks I have dispelled the myths of single payer for you.</div>
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<b>Now lets sound off my favorites features of single payer.</b></div>
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10. Current private insurance workers will not lose their jobs. They will be retrained to work for the government entity, which will need qualified health care administrators.</div>
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9. Single payer will eliminate the administration costs charged by greedy insurance companies, which account for 31% of every dollar spent on health care. Money saved will be used to cover the uninsured and underinsured.</div>
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8. You will likely pay less in taxes to pay for universal single payer.</div>
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7. There will be no more bills, deductibles, or co-pays.</div>
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6. Premiums on individuals and businesses will be based on ability to pay.</div>
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5. The government and health care insurance companies will not make medical decisions. This will be left to doctors and hospitals.</div>
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4. For most people single payer will cost less than the insurance they have now.</div>
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3. The ability to have insurance will no longer be tied to employment.</div>
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2. Single payer creates patient choice. Under the Minnesota Health Plan you can go to any hospital and see any doctor in the country.</div>
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<div class="p1">
1. Single payer will cover 100% of Minnesotans on all necessary treatment.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-68372416090542595282013-05-03T13:59:00.001-07:002013-05-03T13:59:22.046-07:00Health Care Fridays: Single Payer Myths - Debunked! Part 5<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OIRrEBQXNAM/UYQlAIzhqkI/AAAAAAAAAH8/heOP5ZR0yOY/s1600/MARY.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OIRrEBQXNAM/UYQlAIzhqkI/AAAAAAAAAH8/heOP5ZR0yOY/s200/MARY.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
I am Mary Einspahr, HECUA intern for MPIRG this semester and University of Minnesota- Twin Cities chapter member focusing on health care. I care about this issue because I believe that healthcare is a human right.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Minnesota Health Plan is a single payer healthcare reform bill for our state that would cover 100% of Minnesotans. Single payer is health care in which all payments are under one health plan rather than over 250 for-profit insurance companies. There are many myths about single payer. I am here to debunk them for you.</div>
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<b>Myth #5: Single payer will cost me more than I’m paying now for private health insurance.</b></div>
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This is what the system looks like right now: if you are paying $8,000 in premiums for a family of four with a $4,000 deductible, your annual liability is at least $12,000.</div>
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Most Minnesotans will pay the same or less than they are currently paying for private health insurance. Instead of paying premiums to greedy insurance companies, most people will pay a similar or smaller amount in taxes.</div>
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To clarify, the Minnesota Health Plan will have premiums not taxes. The money from the premiums would not go to the state treasury. It would go straight to the MHP and could only be used to pay for health care. They will most likely pay a smaller premium, and it will be based on the individual’s ability to pay.</div>
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The best part is there are no deductibles or co-pays under single payer, and you can see any doctor and visit any hospital in the country.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-10902912980821487162013-04-19T11:31:00.000-07:002013-04-19T11:31:03.208-07:00Health Care Fridays: Single Payer Myths - Debunked! Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwZg_WXyONs/UXGM4jwgPtI/AAAAAAAAAHo/iXRQeLTvguo/s1600/MARY.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwZg_WXyONs/UXGM4jwgPtI/AAAAAAAAAHo/iXRQeLTvguo/s200/MARY.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
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I am Mary Einspahr, HECUA intern for MPIRG this semester and University of Minnesota- Twin Cities chapter member focusing on health care. I care about this issue because I believe that healthcare is a human right.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
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The Minnesota Health Plan is a single payer healthcare reform bill for our state that would cover 100% of Minnesotans. Single payer is health care in which all payments are under one health plan rather than over 250 for-profit insurance companies. There are many myths about single payer. I am here to debunk them for you. </div>
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<b><br />Myth #4: Single payer will cover less than the insurance I have now.</b></div>
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For most people single payer will be a great improvement in the amount of coverage. The necessities will all be funded, including doctor visits, hospital care, mental health services, rehab, nursing home care, home care, dental care, and eye care. If you and your health care provider determine that a treatment, specialist, medication, or medical device is necessary, it will be covered under the Minnesota Health Plan.</div>
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Single payer will also produce a steep increase in public health funding to prevent disease.</div>
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No other plan covers 100% of Minnesotans on all of the necessary medical needs. Imagine what our state would look like if people could go in to the doctor and receive treatment before a problem becomes so several that it requires an emergency room trip.</div>
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Under single payer there will be no more bills, deductibles, or co-pays. Instead there will be premiums on individuals and businesses based on ability to pay. By eliminating the middleman, insurance companies, the premium would cost less than the premiums, deductibles, and co-pays businesses and individuals currently pay. This is how our state would be able to afford covering all medical necessities.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-1525128031338431342013-04-12T12:19:00.003-07:002013-04-12T12:19:53.634-07:00Health Care Fridays: Single Payer Myths - Debunked! Part 3
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hWZx8eOCDkA/UWheSS8Jn7I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/ojmL-2c243g/s1600/MARY.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hWZx8eOCDkA/UWheSS8Jn7I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/ojmL-2c243g/s200/MARY.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
I am Mary Einspahr, HECUA intern for MPIRG this semester and University of Minnesota- Twin Cities chapter member focusing on health care. I care about this issue because I believe that healthcare is a human right.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
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The Minnesota Health Plan is a single payer healthcare reform bill for our state that would cover 100% of Minnesotans. Single payer is health care in which all payments are under one health plan rather than over 250 for-profit insurance companies. There are many myths about single payer. I am here to debunk them for you.</div>
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<b>Myth #3: Single payer will lead to rationing, like in Canada.</b></div>
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Our current health system in the United States as private health insurance is ration care. If you don’t have insurance, you don’t get care. 50.7 million Americans lack health insurance. 120 Americans die every year for this very reason. Other ways that our current health system is rationed is through insurance plans excluding care for pre-existing conditions or refusing to cover people with chronic health conditions. The more often you are sick, the more you need coverage, and the greater chance you have of being denied coverage. This is morally wrong.</div>
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Health care should not be rationed by the government or greedy insurance companies. Decisions should be made solely through the doctor and patient. Under the Minnesota Health Plan, care would not be rationed because you are sick and unable to pay.</div>
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You may have heard of issues with health insurance in Canada, specifically about the “wait list” with long lines. This is health insurance industry propaganda. Under the Minnesota Health Plan, lines would actually be shorter, because the plan would ensure that there were enough health care providers to provide timely access to treatment. The Minnesota Health Plan would be required to work with higher education institutions to ensure there are enough health care providers to meet the needs of Minnesotans. </div>
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Although there were minor glitches in Canada for waiting for non-emergencies visits, this was only temporary while the system was first being established. It truly was not as great a problem as portrayed by the American media. The fact is the Canadian health care system is half the cost of our current system and zero people die in Canada every year due to a lack of health insurance.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-20350982792965648412013-03-22T15:49:00.000-07:002013-03-22T15:49:50.461-07:00Health Care Fridays: Single Payer Myths - Debunked! Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7w2BCN_yAS8/UUzd6HOk6xI/AAAAAAAAAHA/RixH7zCU1s4/s1600/MARY.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7w2BCN_yAS8/UUzd6HOk6xI/AAAAAAAAAHA/RixH7zCU1s4/s200/MARY.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I am Mary Einspahr, HECUA intern for MPIRG this semester and University of Minnesota- Twin Cities chapter member focusing on health care. I care about this issue because I believe that healthcare is a human right.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
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<span class="s1">The Minnesota Health Plan is a single payer healthcare reform bill for our state that would cover 100% of Minnesotans. Single payer is health care in which all payments are under one health plan rather than over 250 for-profit insurance companies. There are many myths about single payer. I am here to debunk them for you.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Myth #2: Costs will skyrocket under single payer.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Costs will not skyrocket under single payer. Single payer is the only health care reform that will generate enough savings to insure everyone. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Currently 31% of each health care dollar is spent on administrative costs, not health care. With single payer, we would save $350 billion a year in administrative costs and profits by eliminating the insurance industry. That savings would instead insure those who lack insurance and fully cover the under-insured. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Upon hearing that the individual insurance companies will be eliminated under single payer you might ask, “What about my neighbor who works for Blue Cross? Will they be out of a job?”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">No. If single payer health care gets adopted in Minnesota our state will need capable, experienced health insurance specialists to work for our one new insurance entity. The system will retrain those who already have the skills and acknowledge in this industry.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">While more people will be seeking health insurance than are currently insured, this will still save money. Instead of burdening our hospitals with expensive emergency room trips from people with without insurance, people will gain incentive to seek early treatment for medical problems and receive preventative care.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-18949654463623515922013-03-15T10:18:00.002-07:002013-03-15T10:21:38.478-07:00Health Care Fridays: Single Payer Myths - Debunked! Part I<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yS-rKLbOqVM/UUNYgIt4PrI/AAAAAAAAAGs/qhJMFZv7NI4/s1600/MARY.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yS-rKLbOqVM/UUNYgIt4PrI/AAAAAAAAAGs/qhJMFZv7NI4/s200/MARY.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
Hello! My name is Mary Einspahr. This semester I am doing my HECUA internship with MPIRG and University of Minnesota- Twin Cities chapter member focusing on health care. I care about this issue because I believe that healthcare is a human right.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
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The Minnesota Health Plan is a single payer healthcare reform bill for our state that would cover 100% of Minnesotans. Single payer is health care in which all payments are under one health plan rather than over 250 for-profit insurance companies. </div>
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There are many myths about single payer. I am here to debunk them for you.</div>
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<b>Myth #1: Single payer is socialized medicine.</b></div>
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Single payer is not socialized medicine. An example of that would be the Veterans Administration or the British health care system in which the government pays for the doctors and hospitals. Single payer creates patient choice. Under this plan you can chose your health care provider from any doctor or hospital in the United States. Doctors are not employees of the government, which means that hospitals remain in private hands. The government will not make medical decisions. Those will be left to the doctors and hospitals. The difference between this and our current system is that currently choice of doctors and treatment options are being made by insurance companies and in some cases the government. This will not be the case with single payer.</div>
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Another issue with our current healthcare system is it is tied to employment. Not only must you be employed, but you must also have health covered from our job or be able to afford buying your own. Single payer would cover all people regardless of their employment status. You would be free to change jobs or careers without fear of losing health insurance.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-3953583792193168372013-03-14T10:42:00.000-07:002013-03-14T10:42:02.872-07:00Education Opportunity Credit Heads to Senate Higher Ed Committee Today
<div class="p1">
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</div>
<div class="p1">
March 14, 2013</div>
<div class="p1">
Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG)</div>
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Contact: Josh Winters, Executive Director, MPIRG, <a href="mailto:josh@mpirg.org"><span class="s1">josh@mpirg.org</span></a>, 612-627-4035 x300</div>
<div class="p1">
Joey Dobson, Campus Organizer, MPIRG, <a href="mailto:joey@mpirg.org"><span class="s1">joey@mpirg.org</span></a>, 515-239-7404</div>
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<b>Education Opportunity Credit Heads to Senate Higher Ed Committee Today</b></div>
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This morning, students from across the state joined legislators at the Capitol in support of an innovative bill that would make higher education more affordable and accessible to all students in Minnesota. The Education Opportunity Credit, what the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) has coined as Opportunity Minnesota (HF 1097 and SF 997), relieves student loan debts for Minnesota residents that have graduated from a Minnesota higher education institution and continue to work in the state following graduation. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Representative Dorholt and Senator Clausen, Chief Authors in their respective bodies, shared their perspective on this common sense legislation that would relieve student debt and remove the cost barrier that prevents many Minnesotans from attending college. </div>
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Student leaders also spoke of the tremendous burden their accruing debt has on the choices they make even now. As MPIRG Board Chair Emma Wright pointed out, student debt “is particularly acute in Minnesota, where we have the dubious distinction of having the 3rd highest debt average in the entire country at a whopping $29,058. Student loan debt has now surpassed credit card debt as the greatest source of indebtedness.” The crowd of students in attendance dressed in red, symbolic of the color of their debt. </div>
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In addition to rallying support, MPIRG unveiled their Opportunity Minnesota Economic Analysis Report. “The total economic benefit to Minnesota from this policy would be $970,998” said Elton Mykerezi, PhD from the Applied Economics Department of the University of Minnesota and who conducted key analysis.</div>
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As MPIRG St. Catherine’s University Co-Chair Elora La Valle put it, “we should care about Opportunity Minnesota because it isn't just about the students. It's about the businesses, the communities, the next generation, and the overall quality of living in our beautiful state.” It incentivizes our highly skilled workforce to stay in Minnesota, increasing entrepreneurship, business investment, lifetime earnings, and the tax base.</div>
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SF997 will be heard in today’s Senate Higher Education Committee, where more students are set to testify for its passage.</div>
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<b></b><br /></div>
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<b>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:</b></div>
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MPIRG is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit, student-directed organization that empowers and trains students and engages the community to take collective action in the public interest throughout the state of Minnesota.</div>
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# # #</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-43374140773966361582013-03-13T09:36:00.001-07:002013-03-13T09:44:40.806-07:00Students and Legislators Come Together to Support Higher Education Debt Relief<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
March 13, 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Contact: Josh Winters, Executive Director, MPIRG, <a href="mailto:josh@mpirg.org">josh@mpirg.org</a>, 612-627-4035 x300</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joey Dobson, Campus Organizer,
MPIRG, <a href="mailto:joey@mpirg.org">joey@mpirg.org</a>, 515-239-7404<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Students and Legislators Come Together <br />
to Support Higher Education Debt Relief<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>WHO: </b>Representative Dorholt, Chief House Author<br />
Senator Clausen, Chief Senate Author<br />
Brian Dailey-Arndt, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities<br />Matthew Fredericks, University of Minnesota – Morris<br />Sarah Knispel, Macalester College<br />Emma Wright, MPIRG Board Chair, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities</div>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>WHEN:</b>Thursday, March 14, 10:15AM</div>
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<b>WHERE:</b> <br />Capitol, Room 125<br />100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, St Paul, MN 55155</div>
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<b>WHAT:</b><br />Press Conference<br />
Release: Opportunity Minnesota Economic Analysis Report<br /> & Student Debt Yearbook</div>
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<b>ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:</b></div>
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The rising costs of attaining a higher education degree are more burdensome now than ever for prospective students, and further bar low-income youth from entering the middle class. Tuition at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities alone has increased 174% since 2000. But this trend is not unique to the U of M – it is true across the board in both public and private institutions. As a result, Minnesota now has the dubious distinction of having the 3<span class="s1"><sup>rd</sup></span> highest average higher education debt in the country at a whopping $29,058, according to an annual report by the Project on Student Debt. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Opportunity Minnesota (HF 1097 and SF 997) is an innovative piece of legislation based off of a bill that passed Maine’s legislature overwhelmingly in 2007. It relieves student loan debts for Minnesota residents that have graduated from a Minnesota higher education institution and continue to work in the state following graduation. It is designed to both relieve student debt and remove the cost barrier that prevents many Minnesotans from attending college. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
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MPIRG is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit, student-directed organization that empowers and trains students and engages the community to take collective action in the public interest throughout the state of Minnesota.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4604016847386428691.post-47023389557286159142013-03-12T15:04:00.002-07:002013-03-12T15:04:47.858-07:00Opportunity Minnesota: Day of Action for Affordable Higher Education<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa_SpFD2jJM/UT-jnvqevXI/AAAAAAAAAGc/breuob6fh1c/s1600/circle+of+debt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa_SpFD2jJM/UT-jnvqevXI/AAAAAAAAAGc/breuob6fh1c/s320/circle+of+debt.png" width="249" /></a></div>
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Students are doing all that they can to avoid taking out loans. My personal experience means working full time in the summer and two part time positions during the school year. </div>
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I am a Community Advisor at my college and that pays me the amount of my room and board cost. While that helps, I also work at the front desk in my residence hall when I can. This comes to 30 hours a week, on top of having a full course load and an internship with MPIRG. I have been a full time student for two years and have taken classes over the summer in order to graduate early this December.</div>
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Even with all of my efforts and my parents’ assistance, I will be graduating with $19,000 of student debt once I graduate. And this is just one example of the extreme lengths students are taking to get a higher education degree in order to have the least amount of debt after graduation. We are all in a similar situation where we admittedly miss out on some experiences because we are working more hours and graduating as soon as possible and using any amount of time we have to reduce the amount of debt we would have. </div>
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That is why I support <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H1097.0.html&session=ls88" target="_blank">HF1097</a>/<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0997.0.html&session=ls88" target="_blank">SF997</a>, the Education Opportunity Credit - what we are calling Opportunity Minnesota. This <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">innovative piece of
legislation based off of a bill that passed Maine’s legislature overwhelmingly
in 2007.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">It relieves student loan
debts for Minnesota residents that have graduated from a Minnesota higher
education institution and continue to work in the state following
graduation.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">It is designed to both
relieve student debt and remove the cost barrier that prevents many Minnesotans
from attending college.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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Come join us all at the Capitol this Thursday, March 14 at our 10am press conference in room 125 and in the afternoon for the Senate Higher Education Committee at 3pm in room 123. Register <a href="https://docs.google.com/a/mpirg.org/forms/d/176y2SrcC60Ljv78b3fImikeouteO6rdbPpxHVJ4UOWU/viewform" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> to let us know you are coming! We all feel the effects of debt. Let’s stand together to support Opportunity Minnesota on Thursday!</div>
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