Article Type: Press Release

Today, college students spoke out to urge Senators to reject the pending student loan deal, which may come up for a vote in the Senate as early as this afternoon.

College textbook prices increased three times the rate of inflation over the last decade according to a new report by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO).  Recent changes to federal law provide some relief to students, but more must be done to curb textbook costs permanently, it finds.

U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (CT) and Karen Bass (CA) were joined today by student advocacy groups to highlight legislative solutions to rein in student loan debt. One year ago today, the United States’ total amount of student debt crossed the $1 trillion mark.

With states across the country facing dire fiscal crunches and lawmakers in Washington gearing up for more budget showdowns, U.S. PIRG Education Fund released a new study revealing that state budgets were hit collectively with $40 billion in lost revenue from offshore tax dodging last year.

Tallahassee, FL – According to preliminary results provided by local elections officials, several Florida State University campus precincts showed significant increases in turnout over the previous national election. Precinct 1507, for instance, showed a 28.6 percent increase, precinct 2503 showed a 8.2 percent increase and Precinct 2506 showed a 7.8 percent increase over 2008. 

CoPIRG student chapter volunteers helped register more than 13,000 students to vote. Now, using on-the-ground and on-line strategies, campaign volunteers are reaching out to their peers in classrooms, on computers and campus quads and urging them to cast a ballot. To date, the campaign has made 46,000 GOTV contacts.

In an election cycle filled with talk of every single vote counting, students at MASSPIRG campus chapters around the state launched a final campaign push, employing proven tactics to mobilize young voters to the polls.  Using on-the-ground and on-line strategies, campaign volunteers will reach their peers in classrooms, on computers and campus quads and urge them to cast a ballot.

[Washington, DC]   According to exit polls issued by national media outlets, the youth share of the electorate increased to 19 percent in 2012 over 18 percent in 2008. 

[Amherst, MA] According to preliminary results provided by local elections officials, several University of Massachusetts Amherst campus precincts showed significant increases in turnout over the previous national election.  Precinct 3, for instance showed a 29 percent increase, Precinct 4 showed a 21 percent increase and Precinct 5 showed a 27 percent increase over 2008.

COLLEGE PARK, MD  According to preliminary results provided by local elections officials, turnout numbers at a local student precinct at University of Maryland, College Park (UMDCP) increased by 49 percent between the 2008 and 2012 elections.