Editor,
After reading John Newman's letter to the editor in Monday's Daily Lobo regarding New Mexico Public Interest Research Group's status as a nonpartisan organization, I realized that there are probably many students who don't know either what a nonpartisan group is or what an advocacy group does.
So, thank you, Newman, for making this point and allowing me to clear up this misunderstanding. The PIRG - which has 65 campus chapters around the country - is a grass-roots, nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization. We do not support or give money to any candidate or campaign for any party.
We do, however, look at each issue individually and take a stand for what is best for the environment, consumers and our democracy. If you were on campus last semester, you may remember us running the New Voter's Project. This campaign was an effort to increase the number of 18- to 24-year-olds who vote regardless of the party with which they were affiliated. It was the largest nonpartisan voter outreach effort in the country. It was endorsed by President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, as well the College Democrats, College Republicans and College Greens on campus.
Our state office is running a campaign against payday lending, which has the support of Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature. They are also running a campaign for renewable energy and fuel efficiency, another issue that has strong supporters from both major parties. As an advocacy group, to be the most effective we lobby, canvass, hold press conferences and build coalitions with groups ranging from Sierra Club to the Department of Defense.
If you are interested in getting involved with an issue despite the party you are affiliated with, or if you still have questions about who we are and what we stand for, please come by our office in the Lobo Lair of the SUB, room 1034, where we are usually in the office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
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Katryn Fraher
NMPIRG chapter president
