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'Disease' of credit debt addressed
The campaign, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and the League of Young Voters, is promoting a student video contest dubbed “Keep it in your pants,” which plays off the theme of campaigns to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Budding filmmakers are being sought to help spread the message of financial responsibility through an unorthodox campaign designed to take on the credit card industry for its practice of aggressively marketing debt to young people.
The campaign, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and the League of Young Voters, is promoting a student video contest dubbed “Keep it in your pants,” which plays off the theme of campaigns to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
“We’re tying to promote awareness about the dangers of credit card debt, and that it can spread like any other disease,” said Lynda Tran, spokeswomen for SEIU in Washington.
“Credit care debt is a major issue, and we know that college students and other young people around the country are targeted by banks,” she added.
According to SEIU, college students represent the fastest-growing market for credit card debt, with more than 75% of college students having at least one credit card.
The goal, according to Ms. Tran, is to shed light on the seriousness of debt by tapping into the creativity of the generation being targeted.
On the website, www.keepitinyourpants.org, students age 14 and up are encouraged to create short videos that draw parallels between “debt disease and other social epidemics” in the form of a public service announcement.
“We expect it to be fun and inspirational,” Ms. Tran said.
Beyond the creative satisfaction, the students will be competing for a $5,000 first prize. Four students will also be awarded $500 each as semifinalist when the ultimate winning video is announced on April 23.
