The recently formed grass roots student organization, GIVE, allows WSU students to participate in local, national, and international philanthropic opportunities.
This student group started earlier this year by Erika Schoonmaker, a senior kinesiology major, and Ed Kent, director of philanthropy for Associated Students of Washington State University.
They are a fairly small group, with 10 to 15 members regularly attending their meetings, but they already run some very large events on campus. Earlier this semester GIVE participated in Drunk Driving Awareness Week. They organized the simulated car crash on campus, Schoonmaker said.
“We had to coordinate with the university, police and fire department to get it approved. It was a difficult process, but when it actually happened it was a very moving and a lot of people took it to heart,” Katie Peterson, a member of GIVE, said.
Next semester GIVE will be putting on an all campus fitness challenge to create scholarships for veterans on campus. The events will be held all around campus, and all students are encouraged to join in the activities, Schoonmaker said. The events will be geared toward the different branches of the military and will follow a military theme.
Schoonmaker said currently there are few scholarships for veterans, so money raised will be put towards a scholarship fund to help those who have served or are serving to continue their education and obtain degrees.
“This event won’t be until April. We’re still in the really early phases of planning, but very excited about this,” Schoonmaker said.
GIVE also plans to expand and work with other national and international philanthropic associations in the up coming semester. Schoonmkaer said they hope to have an event in the spring with TOMS Shoes, and organization that gives a pair of shoes to children in need every time a pair of shoes is bought.
GIVE draws its ideas for their events from their members.
“We don't emphasize any specific causes, just what catches our attention or we feel needs to be addressed,” Schoonmaker said.
“The thing I love about GIVE is that it really gives me the opportunity to have an impact on issues we feel passionate about. We have a big say in what we get involved in and every meeting is basically a brainstorming session,” Peterson said.
Members say, the unique quality that really sets apart this group from others on campus, allowing students to take control and make a difference within their community and in a larger global sense.
“There are so many issues out there and GIVE is just one way that we can give back and try to make the world a bit more positive,” Schoonmaker said.
GIVE also works closely with the Center for Civic Engagement. Their mission is to promote civic responsibility. Together they have put on events such as the Rake Run, where they went to elderly people’s houses and raked leaves for them.
“It’s been a great opportunity to get together with others who also want to give back to the community,” member of GIVE, Katie Derrig said.
GIVE meets every Thursday at 5:30 in CUE 319. Meetings are open to anyone.
For more information about GIVE visit the ASWSU Web site. http://aswsu.wsu.edu/current_projects_GIVE.aspx
Erika Schoonmaker
eschoonmaker@wsu.edu
Katie Peterson
Peterk8@wsu.edu
Katie Derrig
katiederrig@gmail.com
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
leade
1. Dispite $54 million budget cuts higher education will remain at risk, fears district 9 Sen. Mark Schoesler.
2.Disagreements between WSU President Elson S. Floyd and Governor Christine Gregorie on cuts in higher education lead to questions on how the money will be distributed among the state of Washington to compensate the $99 million they intend to cut.
3. With 43 percent of amphibian populations worldwide in decline, Andrew Storfer, associate professor at WSU, says habitat destruction, global climate change, and diseases are some of the many factors contributing to their decline.
2.Disagreements between WSU President Elson S. Floyd and Governor Christine Gregorie on cuts in higher education lead to questions on how the money will be distributed among the state of Washington to compensate the $99 million they intend to cut.
3. With 43 percent of amphibian populations worldwide in decline, Andrew Storfer, associate professor at WSU, says habitat destruction, global climate change, and diseases are some of the many factors contributing to their decline.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
speach
Budget deficits monopolies the conversation on Tuesday evening, when elected officials from Legislative District 9 spoke in Honors Hall at Washington State University.
The Thomas S. Foley Institute at WSU hosted the opportunity for students and community members to meet their representatives.
District 9 Sen. Mark Schoesler as well as Reps. Susan Fagan and Joe Schmick took time to explain the economic situation and answer questions for an audience of about 40.
The most senior of them, Schoesler, has been a part of Washington State legislation since1992.
Schoesler explained the history of economic changes over the years and how we got to the defect we are now.
“After the 2001 dot-com bubble burst they used short term fixes,” Schoesler said.
The state is in a difficult situation when it comes to the budget.
“When there is 10 percent unemployed, it’s hard because spending goes down and use of state benefits increases,” Schoesler said.
With the state spending more money than it has in the past, the budget shortfall is only growing at this point.
At the end of last session, the legislature faced a $9 million deficit, Schoesler said.
Schmick explained that Washington State was the only state that increased Labor & Industries’ worker compensation. Due to this many companies, such as Boeing Co., chose to move out of the state.
“That might not sound like a lot, but the employees and families all move causing a larger affect,” Schmick said.
Regulating state spending on health care for the already partly insured children is one budget cut Schoesler proposed in order to reduce the deficit.
Audience member, Dorothy Swanson, democrat, does not agree with Schmick about reducing workers’ compensation.
“The money from workers comp. is being spent on everyday expenditures and being put back into the community and those local businesses,” Swanson said.
Many others attending the meeting voiced concerns on how exactly they plan to balance the budget and at what cost to tax payers.
Schmick also proposed lessening the days allotted for workers composition for injuries in the work force. Washington’s average time loss for injuries is 260 days. He compared this to Oregon’s average of 60 days, and the country’s average of 90.
All the representatives admitted was that it will be a challenging year and the state needs to reevaluate the economic plan.
After Gov. Chris Gregoire releases a proposed budget for the upcoming legislative session the representatives said they will know more about how the state might handle the budget shortfall.
Audience members expressed concern about topics including public safety and tuition increases.
Although there are proposed tuition increases, Washington State has one of the lowest rates of student debt at graduation, Schmick said.
“Tuition increase is a tragedy to students both in short and long term,” Fagan said.
Q) As a student my tuition has increased almost 30% since my freshman year. I’ve heard rumors about tuition rising up to 40% next year due to the budget cuts, what is your plan in that case?
Q) How do you expect society to progress and students to get jobs if you continue to raise tuition and make state schools not accessible to a majority of people.
Q) what do you plan to do to combat the deficit.
Schoesler, Mark (360) 786-7620
Fagan, Susan (360) 786-7942
Schmick, Joe (360) 786-7844
Audience member Dorothy Swanson (preferred not to give personal contact information)
I talked to many other audience members but did not use their interviews in my article
The Thomas S. Foley Institute at WSU hosted the opportunity for students and community members to meet their representatives.
District 9 Sen. Mark Schoesler as well as Reps. Susan Fagan and Joe Schmick took time to explain the economic situation and answer questions for an audience of about 40.
The most senior of them, Schoesler, has been a part of Washington State legislation since1992.
Schoesler explained the history of economic changes over the years and how we got to the defect we are now.
“After the 2001 dot-com bubble burst they used short term fixes,” Schoesler said.
The state is in a difficult situation when it comes to the budget.
“When there is 10 percent unemployed, it’s hard because spending goes down and use of state benefits increases,” Schoesler said.
With the state spending more money than it has in the past, the budget shortfall is only growing at this point.
At the end of last session, the legislature faced a $9 million deficit, Schoesler said.
Schmick explained that Washington State was the only state that increased Labor & Industries’ worker compensation. Due to this many companies, such as Boeing Co., chose to move out of the state.
“That might not sound like a lot, but the employees and families all move causing a larger affect,” Schmick said.
Regulating state spending on health care for the already partly insured children is one budget cut Schoesler proposed in order to reduce the deficit.
Audience member, Dorothy Swanson, democrat, does not agree with Schmick about reducing workers’ compensation.
“The money from workers comp. is being spent on everyday expenditures and being put back into the community and those local businesses,” Swanson said.
Many others attending the meeting voiced concerns on how exactly they plan to balance the budget and at what cost to tax payers.
Schmick also proposed lessening the days allotted for workers composition for injuries in the work force. Washington’s average time loss for injuries is 260 days. He compared this to Oregon’s average of 60 days, and the country’s average of 90.
All the representatives admitted was that it will be a challenging year and the state needs to reevaluate the economic plan.
After Gov. Chris Gregoire releases a proposed budget for the upcoming legislative session the representatives said they will know more about how the state might handle the budget shortfall.
Audience members expressed concern about topics including public safety and tuition increases.
Although there are proposed tuition increases, Washington State has one of the lowest rates of student debt at graduation, Schmick said.
“Tuition increase is a tragedy to students both in short and long term,” Fagan said.
Q) As a student my tuition has increased almost 30% since my freshman year. I’ve heard rumors about tuition rising up to 40% next year due to the budget cuts, what is your plan in that case?
Q) How do you expect society to progress and students to get jobs if you continue to raise tuition and make state schools not accessible to a majority of people.
Q) what do you plan to do to combat the deficit.
Schoesler, Mark (360) 786-7620
Fagan, Susan (360) 786-7942
Schmick, Joe (360) 786-7844
Audience member Dorothy Swanson (preferred not to give personal contact information)
I talked to many other audience members but did not use their interviews in my article
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