The following question will be voted on by ALL Dalhousie students:


Whereas: The Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group (NSPIRG-Dal) has worked for environmental and social justice on campus and in the community since opening in 1990.

Whereas: NSPIRG-Dal provides services to the Dalhousie community including, but not limited to: alternative resource library, Seymour Green urban garden and workshops, grassroots project funding and support, human rights advocacy, public lectures and seminars on environmental and social issues, original research and publications, training for a variety of students and professors, and a supportive environment in a non-judgmental, positive space.

Whereas: NSPIRG-Dal has operated from a student levy established in 1990 at $2.00 per full time student per semester and has not increased to account for inflation. The inflation on this amount since 1990 is calculated to be $1.00. 

Do you support the direct levy to the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group (NSPIRG-Dal) be increased by $1.00 per part time student to a total of $1.00 per semester and $1.00 per full time student to a total of $3.00 per semester?

Yes/No

As the only organization explicitly committed to “linking research with action for social and environmental justice within an anti-oppression framework” in the HRM, NSPIRG has been and continues to be a staple in the Dalhousie community. We are a non-profit, non-partisan and non-governmental organization with a three pronged approach to our mandate: Research, Education, Action.

Research:   Initiate and fund original research in a variety of medias. Ex:educational videos, audio-documentaries, books, zines

Education:  Translate our research into independent publications and public events. Ex: lectures, film screenings and workshops. We also manage an alternative library and resource centre in room 314 of the SUB where students can borrow a/v equipment, crafts, mega-phone, button makers, etc.

Action:  Develop and support campaigns and actions on campus and in the community. Ex:  Seemore Green Garden (students collectively manage an on-going garden on campus) , Study in Action program (linking Halifax universities with organizations in the community who can use student research), Day of Action (action to reduce debt and drop tuition fees)

The Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group proposes a $1 dollar levy increase per term, from $2 to $3 for all Dalhousie students (i.e. full time and part time). This proposal would mark the first increase in revenue for NSPIRG in 22 years and is based solely on inflation rates from 1990 to 2011. The same goods and services that cost $2 in 1990 now costs $3.06. (Calculated w/ CPI data from StatsCan, and Royal Bank of Canada)
Chief Spokesperson: Kelly Conway,  kellylarkinconway@gmail.com