As AU students, we pride ourselves on being the most politically active campus in the nation. We have demonstrated that we are actively engaged with national and campus politics, but now we need to switch our focus to another vital political scene — the world of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. The importance of the ANC to the AU community has been highly undervalued in the past, but now is the time to change that. As members of Northwest D.C. community, it is important that AU students — especially those still on campus — act to represent their interests within the neighborhood by registering to vote in D.C. for our ANC student representatives.
Although we say we’re from New Jersey, California, or any other place from across the U.S., most of us have come to call AU and D.C. home during our years here. As such, the issues and debates ongoing in D.C. have a larger impact on our daily lives than the day-to-day issues back home. Confining our political activities to our home districts not only limits our say in the community we engage with now, but also allows for those representing these districts to ignore our concerns.
Of the two single-member districts that cover AU, only one has had a representative for several years now. District 3D 02, which covers north side, is represented by Tom Smith, whereas the seat for district 3D 07, which covers most of south side, is vacant. Despite the relative anonymity of the ANC to the student body, the effect they have on AU’s current and future campus plans is immense and cannot continue to be ignored.
We encourage the “A Voice 4 U” movement on campus to continue organizing voter registration drives to get a student representative for 3D 07. While some question the success of convincing enough students to change their voter registration, especially in light of the upcoming midterm elections, we believe that such a switch is important and will help the AU community better engage with our community.
As residents of the community, we have the right and responsibility to hold our local politicians accountable to our needs. Our inability to participate in local politics means that our needs and concerns are easily ignored. The vacant 3D 07 seat presents the perfect opportunity for the student body to have an active voice within the ANC, and even just having one voice within the organization will make a serious difference. Just the message that AU students will send by casting write-in votes will signify that we are taking note, and are ready and willing to take action for our interests in the neighborhood.
We realize that this year is a significant one in national politics. With the midterm elections drawing closer, and with several races heating up, this is the year when many of our votes will count. Many of us question why we should switch our voter registration to D.C. during such an important congressional election season, but for those of us who haven’t already requested our absentee ballots, the opportunity to make a difference right here is reason enough to make the change.
Although none of us can say for sure where we will end up in our post-AU years, switching voter registrations to D.C. can make a difference in our lives now, especially freshmen and sophomores who currently reside in these districts and have some time left at AU. As AU attempts to improve the campus for our benefit, we can help by making our concerns as AU students known to the greater community through the local channels of government.
Yes, we are the most politically active campus in the U.S., now lets make a difference right here in our own backyard.
