Students from the College of Staten Island joined peers across the state at the NYPIRG Student Fall Conference held at Purchase College, bringing together passionate young advocates from all walks of life. Representing CSI, campus coordinator Kirby Sikes took the stage as one of the key presenters, highlighting impactful initiatives and grassroots efforts NYPIRG has championed this year.
Breakfast set the tone for the entire day of networking and information exchange with bagels, coffee, juice, and water. An inspiring rally session outlining NYPIRG’s legislative goal for the semester was held shortly after the attendees were greeted. Key topics NYPIRG has been promoting, particularly those that affect everyday student life, were debated by the students. After the introduction session, students divided into workshops on a variety of subjects with the goal of arming them with knowledge and useful skills for change.
Workshop Spotlight: “Strength in Community: Combating Hunger and Homelessness”
Students discovered the shockingly high rates of food insecurity among CUNY students. Hunger is a pervasive problem that affects students’ academic performance and mental health, as evidenced by statistics showing that 29% of CUNY students have skipped meals since the epidemic and 39% of students experience food insecurity. In order to address these urgent needs, workshop participants spoke about doable alternatives including setting up food drives and assisting campus food banks. In order to have a direct influence, they also looked at volunteer projects like doing a clothes run, planting in community gardens, and planning a Volunteer-a-thon.
One important lesson was the connection between academic success and food security: poor nutrition has been linked to major mental health issues, which can impair focus and academic performance. Students were reminded of the saying, “When you take care of the community, the community takes care of you,” as they talked about these relationships.
“Fighting for the Student Vote: From the 1960s to Today”
The history of student voting rights, from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s to NYPIRG’s current initiatives, was the subject of another session. A major milestone was reached in 2022 when Governor Hochul ordered that schools with 300 or more registered voters furnish voting sites. NYPIRG students have assisted in the registration of 12,000 voters around the state. Even still, a large number of schools still lack on-campus voting places; according to recent research by NYPIRG and Bard, more than half of universities with residence halls lack one.
The significance of accessible voting for students as well as the ways in which advocacy and effective organization may assist in removing obstacles to voting were highlighted in this session. After the workshop, students felt more equipped to raise awareness of the ongoing struggle for accessible voting on their own campuses.
“Storytelling for Change: The Power of Personal Narrative”
Students explored the value of storytelling as an advocacy tool in this session, discovering how personal stories can humanize abstract topics and improve campaigns and legislation. Since figures and numbers only go so far, sharing firsthand accounts of hardships—from financial strain to problems with school infrastructure makes the case for change stronger.
Participants gained knowledge on how to write tales that are memorable, relevant, and succinct. Students acknowledged the special ability they had to convey the seriousness of these problems to a wider audience by presenting instances of underappreciated facets of the CUNY experience, such as packed classes, malfunctioning elevators, and students dozing off in libraries.
Wrapping Up
Students got together again for a debrief at the end of the day to celebrate the day’s accomplishments and take note of the numerous motivational suggestions that were presented. Everyone was reminded of the need of banding together to confront issues that directly affect them by the attendance’ strong sense of advocacy and solidarity. As the CSI students were ready to return to campus with new ideas, creative approaches, and a renewed dedication to constructive change, the enthusiasm and resolve were evident.
Attendees of the NYPIRG Student Fall Conference felt energized and prepared to take on new issues for their campuses and communities after engaging in thought-provoking conversations and practical workshops.
By Nathalia Lampkin
