There are 85,000 college students in the District of Columbia, yet students have rarely had any voice in the functioning of the District. These students live in D.C. for the vast majority of the year, and it is in their fundamental interest to have a powerful voice. Recent campus plans and noise ordinances have shown that there are, in fact, tangible negative consequences of students not speaking up.
We believe our interests are left unattended in city government because we are underrepresented. Despite comprising 15% of the District of Columbia's population, we hold only two of the 276 citywide Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) seats. Considering the importance of ANCs in the lives of all students, this is a serious problem.
We believe that, as a grassroots organization with chapters citywide, we can overcome this underrepresentation. At the moment, we have a campus presence at American University, Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, Trinity-Washington University, and The University of the District of Columbia.
It is only through working together that students can positively transform the District of Columbia.
