![\"\"](\"http:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/files\/2016\/11\/unnamed-12.jpg\")
<\/a>Chelsey Jones\n<\/strong>Staff Writers<\/em><\/p>\n
The Jackson State University\u2019s Up to Us team is continuing its efforts to inform students about the high national debt.<\/p>\n
The team is only a year old and only has five active members, but they do not let these factors deter them from accomplishing their mission.<\/p>\n
Net Impact started Up to Us as a way to inform young adults about the almost $20 trillion national debt. According to www.itsuptous.org, Up to Us is a non-partisan, national campaign that gives college students a chance to be the voice of their generation. Participants develop meaningful leadership skills and experience by building a movement to raise awareness on America\u2019s long-term fiscal and economic challenges. Develop connections, receive leadership training, build your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and make an impact.<\/p>\n
Up to Us holds a competition every year to see which school can get the most pledges on the organization\u2019s website. Jackson State University is currently competing with more than 75 other colleges and universities, such as Oklahoma State University, Florida State University and Howard University.<\/p>\n
The pledges serve as proof that the students who signed were informed about the national debt. The school with the most pledges wins $100,000 and will be recognized at the annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting in Washington, D.C. Last year, Jackson State came in third place and the College of William and Mary won the competition.<\/p>\n
This year, the JSU team plans to do things differently from the participants from last year.<\/p>\n
Gerson Guevara, a sophomore urban studies major and a member of Up to Us explained the changes they made to the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we are doing is that we are trying to make our program more intensive and far-reaching,\u201d Guevara said. \u201cLast year, their efforts to try and involve the campus were less intensive. This year, we want to include more of the campus population.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group also plans to do more activities than the previous group. On Oct. 19, the group held a \u201cMy Two Cents Day\u201d event where they offered students a chance to win giftcards in exchange for pledges on the website. They had tables set up in different buildings on campus to collect pledges, and the group was able to get almost 900 signatures that day.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne upcoming event that we have planned is a casino night,\u201d said Terrence Dillon, the team\u2019s leader. \u201cWe will have games themed around the national debt. It will be on Dec.2 in the Jacob L. Reddix General Purpose Room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants in the Up to Us team are afforded:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Leadership training
\n\u2022Resume-building experience
\n\u2022 Internship opportunities
\n\u2022Access to events & conferences
\n\u2022Networking with future-leaders across the country<\/p>\n