4 UNBC Life

Laura Sapergia
Coordinator, PG PIRG

e seep Li

ver wonder what that acronym in your fees stands for?

It’s short for the Prince George Public Interest Research
Group or PG-PIRG. Around campus we just say PIRG, like ice-
BERG. An iceberg is also a good image for PIRG, we do so much
on campus that you might not know about. PIRG is a non-
profit student-funded organization dedicated to research,
advocacy, and other actions in the public interest.

PIRG does this by providing a resource space, access to
staff, and our library. PIRG also supports Action Groups
that work to build skills, share knowledge, and bring
about environmental and social justice in our community.
Stuff we do on campus right now includes: Composting,
Learning Garden, monthly Food Box, Awareness Raising

Campaigns, Election Action and a few more groups. We use
consensus-based decision making to support and do our work.
PIRG is student-funded and holds an office in the NUSC but is
operated independently from the Student Union and UNBC.

Next question: How do we decide what to take
on next? Or, what is in the public interest?

The United Nations has recently identified the following
17 Goals for Sustainable Development which is a pretty
good place for us to start: No poverty, zero hunger, good
health and well being, quality education, gender equality,
clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy,
decent work and economic growth, industry innovation
infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and

communities, responsible consumption and production,
climate action, life below water, life on land, peace justice
and strong institutions, partnerships for the goals.

Our current priorities for action are: food, waste, federal
election #42, decolonization, student engagement,

and environmental protection. We also maintain an
alternative resource library that has a large collection
of books, magazines, and films that cover a range of
social, political, and environmental justice issues.

Wondering what you can do? Lots. Did you know that student
actions brought recycling to UNBC? Yes. Recycling was a
student-led initiative. The food composting that happens on
campus is result of student action, as is BAM (Borrow-A-Mug).

How do you like that metal cutlery in the cafeteria?
Student action. Student Action also brought about the
NUSC building including yep, the Thirsty Moose Pub.
Students are to thank for a ton of good stuff on campus,
and there’s more work to do all the time! Plus, there
are loads of student groups on campus that do work to
support student action on campus, and you know? New
groups are starting all the time! Pretty exciting stuff.

If you want to get involved with PIRG you can...
1: come by and introduce yourself to staff and

volunteers! Our office hours are Mondays, Tuesday,
Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

23 Join us! Volunteer for an existing Action Group
or Coalition, committee or event. If you’ve got
something else in mind, ask how to start your own
Action Group. Got something to say? PIRG supports
students and community member actions that fulfill
our objectives for change. Ask us how we can help!

33 Spend time in our Resource Centre/Office and borrow
books, journals, and films. Join the Library Committee

4 share and develop activist skills and tools at workshops
and events. Skills sharing and mentoring also available!

53 visit us online, sign up for our newsletter,
follow us @pgpirg #studentaction #PGPIRG

63 Apply for a job with PIRG! We hire coordinators
for some Action Groups during the school year and
over the summer. Our year-long Coordinator position
comes up every year in August/September.

What’s next for PIRG? Our AGM is coming up, plus
an epic fundraising event you don’t want to miss.
No matter what new actions we’re taking on, it’s
the same old consensus-based decision making/
environmental and social justice work/riotous fun.