UCSB hosts statewide CALPIRG conference on campus

CALPIRG chapters from all 8 campuses met at the University of California, Santa Barbara on Saturday to share new skills and choose future campaigns.

PIRG stands for Public Interest Research Group.

Students heard from PIRG national organizing director Andy Mcdonald.

Noa Mills of UC Santa Cruz said the nonprofit works on issues students care about such as tuition, the environment and fighting poverty.

Mills said she took part in workshops about leadership and working with other campus players.

Sophie Haddad of UC San Diego said she is working on a campaign to fight hunger and homelessness.

CALPIRG is funded by students who opt-in to donate when they pay tuition.

Haddad said she brainstormed with others about better ways to fundraise.

Students said one of their recent successful campaigns pushed for plastic bag bans.

Petra Favorite of UCSB said her chapter is currently working to improve funding for elections.

They hope to register more students to vote.