CALPIRG at UC Santa Cruz

We are UC Santa Cruz students' public interest group, and have been since 1976.  We are focused on getting real results.  For example, in 2014 we worked with the state legislature to ban single-use plastic bags statewide, and last quarter we worked to save this ban by winning a Yes on Prop 67.  Other victories include registering 40,000 students to vote, passing a bill to make textbooks more affordable, and getting $36 billion in financial aid directly to students (through Pell grants).  We offer opportunities for you to become an intern or volunteer, where you can learn a variety of skills while really making a difference.  By joining CALPIRG, you can see how easy it is to get involved in a large movement for social change.

Right now we're working on campaigns to...

• Go 100% renewable energy on our campuses and statewide
• Save the bees from toxic pesticides
• Make textbooks more afforable
• Get the fast food industry to go plastic free
• End the importation of Amazon Crude Oil

 
Students' support can go a long way

The thing that makes us so effective is that 15% of our students pledge to pay $5 on their bill every quarter to fund CALPIRG.  When we share our resources, we can stand up to powerful opposition that generate enough profit to influence lawmakers in their favor with ease.  Students' contributions help us make students’ voices just as influential, allowing us to hire our own professional staff to train students to run effective campaigns as well as advocate in Sacramento and Washington DC full time on our behalf.