CALPIRG at UC Santa Barbara

Visit us on the 3rd floor of the UCEN, Room 3185!
Campus Organizer: Kat Lockwood

CALPIRG is a statewide non-partisan student-directed and funded organization that works on issues like environmental protection and service, affordable education, and fighting poverty. We train students in grassroots and political organizing skills so they can run campaigns that make a huge impact. For example in 2009 we convinced President Obama to increase federal financial aid for college students by $36 billion. This past year we worked on a campaign to ban plastic bags in Santa Barbara to protect the ocean, and have already banned bags in 54 cities in California. And last quarter we registered over 40,000 students to vote statewide, including 2,000 here at UCSB. We offer volunteer opportunities, as well as internships for course credit. Interns can learn skills in grassroots organizing, media outreach, lobbying and advocacy, and event planning.

Latest News

5 Reasons to Pledge 10/28/2012

Our state and country have got some big problems - global warming, the economy, and the rising cost of college, to name a few. But we can make a difference on these issues... More ›

Student Groups Come Together to Ban Plastic Bags 05/16/2012

Student groups at UCSB including the Associated Students Coastal Fund, Environmental Affairs Board, Isla Vista Surfrider Foundation and CalPirg, have banded together with... More ›

Great Pacific Cleanup Update 12/30/2011

Students across the state from San Diego to Davis have been working hard to address the problem of plastic pollution in the Pacific. A great pacific garbage patch twice the... More ›

UC Santa Barbara Chapter Slideshow

Oceans campaign intern, Jill Agonias, spreads awareness about plastic pollution.
UCSB students listen intently as Ben Davis talks about his work with the Frontier Group.
Volunteers wear the textbook mascot costumes to educate students about affordable textbook alternatives.
Chapter vice chair, Matt Gilliland, goes on local radio station KCSB to talk about a CALPIRG campaign.
Students discuss open source textbooks in a small group at the kickoff meeting.
Interns dress as ninja turtles and hold visibility battles on campus with a plastic bag monster.
Oceans intern Jill Agonias makes a terrifying plastic bag monster!
Campus organizer Ali Brandon has some fun during the UCSB pledge drive.
Vice chair Matt Gilliland and oceans campaign volunteer Jessica table alongside 3rd District County Board Supervisor Doreen Farr.
Chapter chair Alex Gomes discusses CALPIRG's program mix for the upcoming quarter.