News Releases - Student PIRGs

News Releases

Global Warming Solutions

Now’s the Time to Unleash the Power of Clean Energy 2009-06-26

Today, Congress took an historic step toward a new clean energy economy and a healthy future by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

U.S. House Committee Poised to Begin Debate on Historic Energy Bill 2009-05-15

U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey today introduced the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), comprehensive energy legislation that the committee will consider next week.

Historic National Global Warming Bill Cheers Local Students 2009-03-31

Local student leaders of a national campaign to tackle global warming greeted draft legislation released in Congress today as a strong step toward tackling the climate crisis.

New Voter Project

Past News Releases

Youth Vote Increases Surpass Older Voters 2009-04-28

Young voter turnout across the country rose for the third time in as many presidential election cycles, according to a new analysis by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).

National Young Voter Turnout Increases by More than Two Million 2008-11-05

Young voter turnout surged by at least 2.2 million votes over 2004 levels this election, according to new data released by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. For the first time, young voter share of the electorate also surpassed that of voters over 65, with young people making up 18 percent of the electorate and those over 65 making up 16 percent.

Early Data Indicate Youth Turnout Up From 2004 2008-11-04

Preliminary data from local elections officials indicate that young voter turnout in many youth-dense precincts increased significantly over 2004 – as high as 287%. These early numbers offer an important glimpse at what to expect tomorrow when national youth turnout numbers are available.

Affordable Higher Education

Past News Releases

Obama’s Budget Makes Bold Investments to Student Financial Aid 2010-02-02

Statement of Rich Williams, Higher Education Associate, on the Introduction of President Obama’s FY11 Budget.

U.S PIRG Applauds President Obama’s Commitment to Student Aid 2010-01-27

Statement of Rich Williams, Higher Education Associate, on the State of the Union Speech

College Students ‘Subprimed’ 2009-12-01

New Briefing Paper Says College Students Need Consumer Financial Protection Agency to ‘Watchdog’ Risky Loans

Make Textbooks Affordable

Past News Releases

5 Tips to Help College Students Get the Most Bang For Their Used Books 2009-12-07

With textbooks costing the average student about $900 per year, reselling used textbooks to the bookstore is a common practice to recoup some of this hefty expense. However, many students are shocked at how little they get back. The Student PIRGs offer the following tips to help students be smart consumers and get the most bang for their books.

New Report Suggests Technology Could Reverse Skyrocketing Textbook Prices 2009-10-29

New products, such as the Kindle and iPhone, have the potential to drive textbook costs down dramatically, according to new data released today by the Student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). The survey of 1,133 students from 17 colleges looked at student attitudes toward various textbook formats. The findings suggest that there is substantial student demand for new ways to experience textbooks, and new competition in the marketplace could drive prices down.

Students Promote Free Online Textbooks in National Day of Action 2009-10-29

Students across the country fought back yesterday against outrageous textbook prices by participating in national Day of Action to promote open textbooks – textbooks licensed to be free online and affordable in print. Motivated by rapidly rising college textbook costs, student volunteers on 30 campuses educated more than 2,000 professors about switching to open textbooks. Increased faculty interest in affordable alternatives could threaten the reign of expensive, traditional textbooks.

Student Debt Alert

Past News Releases