CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS

Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MassPIRG)

President: Meenu Menon
Vice President: Alana Miller

General Meetings: Wednesdays 8 pm. Campus Center 203.
Global Warming Meetings: Mondays 12:15. Campus Center 203.

MassPIRG is a coalition of students working together as grassroots activists on issues that they're passionate about. Through a waiveable semester fee, students accomplish their goals on major environmental campaigns by pooling their resources together to hire campus organizers, scientists, and lawyers to provide support to student campaigns and assist them in their endeavors.

Last year Smith focused on two campaigns, Stopping Global Warming and Water Watch. Stopping Global Warming works to fight climate change on campus and off. On campus we concentrate on reducing Smith's energy consumption by asking students to set their computers on energy saving settings, distributing Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) which use 75% less electricity than regular bulbs, and raising awareness on campus about climate change through movies, panels and events. Off campus, we are working with students across the state to make sure that Massachusetts takes the necessary steps to fight global warming by reducing our global warming emissions 80% by 2050.

The Water Watch campaign seeks to tackle the public health and environmental consequences of unclean drinking water. Through film screenings, panel discussions, and water contamination testing, the campaign raises awareness of the severity of the global water crisis, in addition to the toxins, overuse, and contamination of the U.S. and Massachusetts drinking supply. We also organize river cleanups to protect our waterways, and work to ensure that the Clean Water Act is being upheld to its highest standard.

Agriculture Action Committee

Founders: Elisabeth Pixley-Fink and Iemanja Brown

Smith's Agriculture Action Committee promotes just, sustainable, and accessible community food systems in the Pioneer Valley, the United States, and the world. As members of the world-wide food movement, we demand the human right of all people to access healthy, affordable food; recognize the potential of agriculture to heal the natural environment; support struggles for farmworker justice; and encourage farming as a dignified, viable profession worldwide. We engage in education and advocacy on our campus and in our communities, take awesome field trips, and strive for a positive role for Smith College in the Valley's food system, through partnership with Dining Services, community organizations and local growers.

GAIA: Smith Students for the Environment

Chair: Rebecca Staples-Moore

Gaia's mission is to raise awareness about environmental concerns and to promote ways to improve the current situation among membrs of the Smith College community, to increase the level of reusing and recycling of materials on campus, and to reduce the amount of waste that the community produces. More..

The Bicycle Kitchen

Spokesperson: Elisabeth Wolfe
Treasurer: Samantha Lyon
Publicity: Jane Jones

We teach students basic bike maintenance skills for safe riding. We also rent bikes to students for $15/semester or for work exchange time at the Bike Fixin' workshops. We talk to administrators at Smith about getting covered bike racks, safety classes for new cyclists, and ways to reduce car traffic on campus. Additionally, we provide the space for people to get together with a common interest through get-togethers, group rides and film screenings. Click here for more information.

Students for Social Justice and Institutional Change

Students for Social Justice and Institutional Change, is an umbrella organization designed with the intention of giving official Smith legitimacy to working-groups that deal with issues of social justice. Currently some of our working-groups include Coke off Campus, Campus Worker-Student Solidarity, Prison Reform, and The Vehicle (our Zine). However, our working-groups really depend on the interests of our members, so we look forward to new ideas as well!

The Bad Seeds

Our mission is to help educate the community about Smith's vast botanical resources, provide a way for members to study the local botanical resources of New England, practice horticultural techniques, and promote appreciation and awareness of plant life. Click here for more information.

Other Student Initiatives