This CSI student can add ‘NYPIRG intern’ to his resume after being accepted this fall semester.
By Nicholas Palmeri
Haroon Ali hands out green network cards to an introductory English class in CSI’s 2N building. These same cards will soon get entered into the NYPIRG student network database.
Ali, a two semester intern for CSI’s New York Public Interest Research Group Chapter (NYPIRG), is already more than halfway to completing the required ninety-six internship hours. One of the chapter’s focuses has been on registering voters for the 2024 election before the deadline on October 26th. They have broken last year’s total number of students registered of 599.
“When we have students vote, we use CUNY registration forms,” said Ali. “The more students register with CUNY, the more serious our representatives will take us and our issues.”
Ali explained that to register as many students to vote as possible, NYPIRG targets the introductory classes because freshmen are less likely to be registered to vote than students who have already been on campus. NYPIRG gets a solid amount of completed voter registration forms from each class, which are then taken into Manhattan by the CSI’s chapter leader Kirby Sikes.
Because Ali had a lot of free time in the morning, he spent his time at the NYPIRG office. He gave himself more flexibility this semester. Ali was in the office four days a week for six hours each visit compared to three days during the spring. Ali’s dedication to NYPIRG hasn’t gone unnoticed by Sikes.
“He’s dedicated. He’s here all the time,” said Sikes. “He’s been basically the person maintaining the student database and office materials, he’s been doing all of that.”
During a class rap, green network cards are distributed to the class. Students have the option to check off issues they feel strongly about. If a particular issue isn’t listed, students are encouraged to write in the issue on their mind.
An issue Ali noticed checked off more than not is for a free and fully funded CUNY. Ali believes a free and fully funded CUNY would help boost CUNY’s status and bring in more students from out of state. He would also like to see more funding directed to NYPIRG. The funds would go toward supplies and a larger office (they have been in the same office for the last fifty years).
Ali petitioned students around the CSI community for proposals such as the Decarbonize CUNY Agenda, the Bottle Bill and Local Law 97. Ali attended a rally in support of Local Law 97 with other NYPIRG members in Manhattan. Ali has also called up state senators and assembly member in an effort to pass the Bottle Bill and the Climate Change Superfund Act. after he made that phone call to those who represented him, he didn’t realize the potential difference he had made.
“When I did NYPIRG during the spring, I barely hit my hours. This time, I’m getting most of them out of the way so I can enjoy the work without feeling pressured by my other classes,” said Ali. “And after I hit my hours, I’m not going to disappear.”
Ali did not plan to become an intern for NYPIRG. He kept receiving emails from the organization, encouraging students who want to make a difference to join. Still, he hadn’t had the thought to apply. It was only after Ali happened to enroll in POL 233 did he realize the NYPIRG internship was a co-requisite.
“Turns out this was a great opportunity for me to get involved in working on issues I am passionate about,” said Ali. “I walked into it not knowing I was walking into anything, but I’m glad that I did.
