The Princeton Review recently ranked AU the most politically active school in the nation.
Saul Newman, a professor in the School of Public Affairs, said part of the reason AU is so politically active is because its students already have an active interest in politics. Two of AU's largest schools are SPA and the School of International Service, whose students are probably engaged in politics already, he said.
"It reflects the fact that AU has worked really hard over the last 70 years to structure itself as a campus that helps students get involved in politics," Newman said.
The campus is a forum that allows everyone to speak their minds, said Clare Allenson, president of College Democrats and a sophomore in SIS.
"I think it's important for people to say what's on their minds and hear what other people have to say," she said.
Overwhelming political activity appears to be the norm on campus, whether it's students interning on the Hill, belonging to a political club or engaging in a debate in the classroom. AU, however, did not always use its proximity to Washington to its advantage.
According to a handout provided to KPU staff by Taylor Robison, director of KPU, "The Kennedy Political Union was founded by Student Association President Luiz Simmons (the equivalent of our Student Government) in 1968 due to frustration with the university's administration for not taking advantage of American's proximity to the political landscape of Washington D.C."
Amanda Fulton, KPU publicity coordinator and a sophomore in SPA, said KPU has affirmed her political ambitions.
"In terms of KPU, it will help us bring a lot of speakers to campus," Fulton said. "I know that is something a lot of speakers would want to capitalize on because they know the audience will be receptive to what they're saying and understand it versus some other school where they weren't so concerned with politics."
Emily Caponetti, a senior working toward her master's degree in SPA, has embraced going to school in a politically active community.
Caponetti was recently selected to be a participant in the Young Women's Leadership Board, which is sponsored by the Women in Politics Institute. The board meets once a month for a Saturday seminar focusing on elements of politics with the overall goal of "women's progression in politics," she said.
Caponetti also works with the Women Under Forty PAC. It is a bi-partisan Political Action Committee that encourages and supports young women getting involved in politics, particularly when women are against male incumbents, she said. Caponetti is also a financial consultant for the New Democrat Coalition PAC, which raises funds for moderate Democratic candidates and incumbents on a national level, she said.
The Princeton Review rankings come directly from the opinions of students who attend the schools rated, said Michael Palumbo, senior editor of The Princeton Review of the 361 Best Colleges. The data is constantly being complied from surveys students can fill out anytime at http://survey.review.com.
The ranking lists, such as the Most Politically Active Schools, are compiled by answers from a single survey question, he said. For the politically active list, students are asked to describe their level of political awareness on a scale five choices from very aware to very unaware.
"We all want to be on 'The West Wing,' but at AU you might actually end up there," Caponetti said.
