We noticed in Gabe Bradley’s recent column (“My guess? OSPIRG’s in the green,” ODE, Feb. 28) a number of inaccuracies and wanted to address these.
First, I wanted to revisit the service that OSPIRG provides to University students: a hands-on, real-world political experience that can result in concrete social reforms. We recently spearheaded a campaign to pass a clean cars rule in Oregon that will greatly reduce air pollution and curb global warming. We have also made a great deal of headway on protecting the Oregon coast from oil drilling. Our resources are dedicated to achieving these campaign goals.
Secondly, I want to clarify our statewide organizational structure. One student group at the University could not alone protect the Oregon coast or pass a clean cars rule. To be effective, we need access to the decision makers who can protect the coast, and to unite people across the state behind the campaign. In order to gain access to these decision makers, the five OSPIRG schools pool their money. This money is controlled by a student board of directors elected from each member school; directors are intimately familiar with what OSPIRG needs to fulfill its mission. Bradley is correct that we pool our money, but it is controlled by students, not “a group of folks in Portland.”
Third, the Field Organizer position was proposed precisely so that University students could have a bigger impact on problems facing our society and thus a more meaningful campaign experience. By getting students across the state, this position would amplify the work we do and allow students to have real power in the state. We were excited about the issue conferences, training and statewide campaign networking this field organizer would provide for us as University students to attend. For our campaigns, this position would be great; if we are going to enact sweeping clean energy-reforms at campuses across the state, we need to have a presence at other campuses.
These days, it is tough to create social change when true special interest groups, with lots of money to throw around, have so much influence over our state and national political process. OSPIRG provides an effective forum for students to create change. We are disappointed with the outcome of the vote Monday night, but we wanted to thank the members of the PFC for recognizing the importance of the field organizer position in their initial vote.

Martini Morris, Anne Groundwater and Casey Davidson are coordinators with the OSPIRG State Board