The Torch

Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeremy Blanchard As part of his tenure as OSPIRG campus organizer, Joe Marino spoke at a press conference held outside the University of Oregon bookstore to promote open source textbooks. The press conference was one of many events the student group held during the 2007-08 academic year.

Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group Campus Organizer Joe Marino recently finished his one-year commitment and moved back to Ohio after working with LCC's OSPIRG chapter for almost three terms.
Under Marino's leadership, OSPIRG held many successful events as part of its numerous campaigns, including an energy-efficient light bulb giveaway for the Campus Climate Challenge, a pilot textbook program to promote cheaper and open source textbooks, a clothing drive and a food drive in which the student group gathered hundreds of pounds of food to be distributed to homeless people in the community.
"Joe brought a lot of energy," Amber Alexander, OSPIRG volunteer, said. "He really pushed and inspired people to not only take the lead and figure out what it was they thought needed to be done, but he also helped a lot with the coalition building."
Last month, OSPIRG partnered with community organizations and businesses focusing on sustainability to hold Sustainapalooza at LCC, a day-long event to raise awareness about climate change, and sustainable food and lifestyles.
Besides fund-raising and awareness events, OSPIRG held several press conferences about specific campaigns. Students rallied in Salem for the Health Care Campaign, advocated alternative transportation at Lane Transit District's Eugene bus station and spoke about their experiences with open source textbooks at the University of Oregon bookstore.
Under Marino's leadership, OSPIRG's funding of $3 per LCC student was also reaffirmed this year.
Alexander commented on Marino's emphasis on coalition building within the college. "Because of Joe's leadership, we worked with a lot of student groups we haven't really worked with in the past and that definitely made our events much stronger than they would have been," she said.
Next year's campus organizer has not been announced, but Alexander stated some people have been interviewed.

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