Old idea brings new hope for students

By JASON M. PRUCEY
Collegian Staff Writer

In the mid-1970s a group of University students collected about 20,000 student signatures supporting the formation of an organization -- called a Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) -- that would act on consumer advocacy issues, such as discrimination and environmental protection.

The group then presented the petitions to the University Board of Trustees and requested that the University raise the money necessary to fund the independent organization by placing a $5 fee on students' tuition bills.

Students would have been automatically assessed the fee unless they specifically indicated they didn't want to pay it.

Although the board did not pass that measure, it did allow the advocacy group to ask students to voluntarily contribute the $5 on their tuition bills rather than automatically including the fee on the bills.

But the modified measure proved to be inadequate, and the students -- still faced with formidable funding problems -- were forced to abandon plans to form the organization.

Now, 20 years later, a second group of students is attempting to overcome that same obstacle that led to the organization's demise one generation earlier.

The renewed effort was inspired in part by Ralph Nader, a consumer advocate who spoke at the University in January. Susannah Beary (senior-English), who is active in the PIRG's formation process, and others gathered names of people who expressed an interest in a local PIRG while at the speech. The students have been working together since then.

Because the PIRG would be completely independent from Penn State, the University could not control any of the organization's activities. That would allow the group to pursue different issues at community and state-wide levels, instead of being limited to the University's concerns.

For example, a group of PIRGs from other universities joined forces in 1982 to oppose federal budget cuts in financial aid for higher education. Also, a PIRG in New Jersey sued 60 companies for violating water pollution permits. The group won all the cases.

"It will be a vehicle to address a lot of different things," Beary said. "I see this as having so much more potential than other student organizations."

Joe Valentich (senior-mechanical engineering) agreed that the PIRG could help students overcome their time constraints.

"I think it is something we need," he said. "A lot of times when you have a problem, you just don't know where to turn, so you just drop it."

Christine Baran (senior-psychology) said although the PIRG is a good idea, she believes it might have a negative effect on the University.

"I think we need to do more for just this University because we're constantly in competition with all other universities," she said.

Because the PIRG would offer independent study projects to students, it could also be a valuable educational tool, Beary said. She hopes the University will recognize that fact when it decides whether to pass the same measure it voted against 20 years ago.

The current funding issue is as important for today's PIRG as it was in the 1970s. Because the PIRG would hire an independent professional staff -- including a secretary, lawyer and scientist -- it is important that the group persuades the University to collect the necessary funds for its budget, Beary said.

"The professionals will provide PIRG with expertise and continuity," she said. "That is really the key."

Although the group has until this summer to place the waivable fee on students' tuition bills, it would like to have the measure passed by the Board of Trustees by the end of this semester, Beary said.

Mike King, Undergraduate Student Government president, sees some definite pros and cons in the PIRG. Although King said the group would create a permanent long-standing organization to defend student interests, he expressed concern regarding its interaction with different student organizations, such as USG.

"It's a real interesting concept. I'm not sold one way or the other," he said, adding that he would like to learn more about the group's objectives.

"I believe we need to serve the students first," King said. "If this is something that would do that, then I think USG would have to cooperate."

Prospective PIRG members are concerned with passing the waivable $5 fee and seeking endorsements from leaders of different student organizations and the University president, said Mike Ewall (junior-sociology).

"The primary reason it didn't pass 20 years ago is because the president essentially said, 'Over my dead body,' " Ewall said. The group is currently preparing a letter to present to University President Joab Thomas concerning the PIRG's formation.

The students have received about 12 endorsements so far and hope to get about 20 in all. A referendum question will appear on today's USG election ballot to gauge how many students would support the organization.

Although the students' efforts have mostly involved establishing the organization, the group is also creating a consumer price index that will indicate if local grocery stores are pricing their items fairly.