The Blog

Position Available: Communications Director

DC Students Speak would like to announce that we are currently looking for a new Communications Director for our City-Wide E-Board.  We have released an application (found at the end of this post), and are looking for applicants to start as soon as possible.

The Communications Department is one of the most essential parts of DC Students Speak.  The Department facilitates the organization’s external communications with press and the government, operates and sends emails to the DCSS listserv, operates and updates the DCSS website and blog, and operates the organization’s social media profiles on Facebook and Twitter.

The Communications Director manages the Department, leading several deputy directors to ensure that all these important responsibilities are fulfilled.

The Communications Director position offers great opportunities for any student interested in communications.  The Director will gain great experience in public relations, web and social media strategy, and government and media outreach.  In addition, the position offers great leadership responsibility that will look good on any resume.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.  Please copy and paste the following form into a word document and, once completed, send it to info@dcstudentsspeak.org as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

DC Students Speak:  Communications Director Application

Name:  ______________________________

Class and Expected Graduation (ie, Sophomore/2014):   ______________________________

University: ____________________________________  Major:  ________________________________

Position Description:  The Communications Director plays an extremely important role in DCSS. The Communications Department facilitates the organization’s external communications with press and the government, operates the DCSS listserv, runs the DCSS website and blog, and operates the organization’s social media profiles on Facebook and Twitter.  The Comm Director manages the Department, leading several deputy directors to ensure that all these important responsibilities are fulfilled.

Please answer the following.  Sweet spot: 1-2 paragraphs. 

1.  What qualifications and leadership experiences do you have that will help you succeed as Communications Director?  Tell us about the two most important to you.

2.  If accepted, what is one thing that you’ll do to improve DCSS Communications?  This could be a way to improve something DCSS already does, or a new idea you plan to implement.  We are looking for innovative ideas and creativity.

3.  Why do you want to be the Communications Director?

A Call to All D.C. College Students: Remember to Vote in Tomorrow’s Primary

Dear Student,

Washington D.C. is holding its primary elections for president, D.C. Council, U.S. Shadow Senator, and U.S. Representative for the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the Statehood Green Party tomorrow, April 3, 2012.

The Republican Party, Democratic Party, and the Statehood Green Party have a closed primary, which means that you must be at least 18-years-old and a registered party member to participate.

Are you registered to vote?

It is not too late to register to vote for the primary. Washington D.C. allows members of the public to register to vote on the day of the election. If you will be registering to vote tomorrow, remember to bring a housing assignment form or housing bill as proof of residency. You can find information regarding how to register to vote in Washington D.C. on the Board of Elections & Ethics website. To review your voter registration check online. You can look up your polling place location by clicking here.

There are 100,000 college students in the District of Columbia, yet students have rarely had any voice in the functioning of the District. Recent campus plans and noise ordinances have shown that there are, in fact, tangible negative consequences of students not speaking up. DC Students Speak encourages you to take the time to vote tomorrow. In order to further our interests, we must first cast a ballot.

For information about D.C. local politics be sure to visit the DC Students Speak blog. If you have any questions or would like to report instances of voter intimidation be sure to contact info@dcstudentsspeak.com.

Sincerely,

DC Students Speak

American University’s Campus Plan has been Approved

By Michael Panek (American 2014)

An artist's rendering of East Campus, from AU's website

At last, American University’s two-and-a-half year Campus Plan process has reached completion, with the city’s Board of Zoning and Commissions voting to approve AU’s campus plan on March 8^th.

As AU students, this is very exciting news.  In their Campus Plan, the university promised to build new dorm buildings, renovate additional academic buildings, build extensions to the fitness complex, and move the Washington College of Law to a more appropriate home at Tenley Campus, among other things.  All of these changes are welcome, and will give future American University students more places to live and the resources needed to obtain an excellent education.

The Zoning Commission approved every element of AU’s Campus Plan, with the exception of the North Hall dorm, which is still going through further processing.  We expect North Hall to also be approved, when the time comes.

It is very exciting to finally see an end to a process that has often seen students vilified by those living around us.  Previous Zoning Board hearings have seen many residents from the surrounding community attack AU students in an attempt to de-rail the plan, criticizing a small minority who live in ‘party houses’ and, as neighbors claim, disrupt the living environment for those around them with their lifestyles.

Read More

DC Students Speak Panel Discussion

By Jean Cornell (American 2014)

Our panelists give their take on student voting and D.C. politics

With sixty students in the audience, the DC Students Speak Panel Discussion on Students and DC Politics encouraged local college students to become more engaged in the policy that affects their daily lives.  Panelists were Dorothy Scheeline of Fairvote, Jen Matson of DC Vote, American University Professor Daniel Reed, ANC Commissioner and AU student Deon Jones, DC Student Speak President and AU student Michael Panek, and Markus Batchellor, VP of Ward 8 Democrat, President of DC Student Statehood Association, GW student, and DC native.

According to Panek, there are roughly 600,000 residents in DC, 100,000 of which are college students.

"Consensus is clear," said Batchellor.  "Students come to Washington, DC to get a new experience. To get their minds blown."

One of the first questions was how to identify students in the community: would it be better to say that they are part of the whole community or just a minority group in it?  All said the first option.

Even though students are considered a protected class in the DC Human Rights Act, Jones was against calling students a minority; he felt that it would take away the sense that students are part of the local community.  It would be "confirming the fact that [students] have different issues [than the community]".  He felt that students should care about the same issues that the community cares about.

Matson raised the issue that it is difficult to determine who actually is a student.  She said it could be anyone studying in the District: undergraduate, graduate, or people going back to school.

Students need to "give perception to local residents that [they] are on equal terms," said Reed.

Panek agreed, "We can't think of ourselves as a protected minority and still consider ourselves part of the community." Read More

Election Year 2012

By Ricky Garza (Georgetown 2014)

Election Year 2012—3 Election Dates, One Goal

At DC Students Speak, we have been tracking the number of elections occurring this year in 2012 and I’d like to use this space as a primer for what elections are happening when, and what supporters can do to make a difference.

In 2012, there are three DC elections of significance where registered students can make a difference (all on Tuesdays). Each of these is listed below with the offices at stake.

1. Democratic and Republican Primary Elections, April 3^rd

Offices at Stake: City Council (Wards 2, 4, 7, 8, At-Large)

While we will not likely be sending a student to the DC Council this year, there is a huge chance to make a difference in these races, especially the At-Large race where any registered student in the city can vote.  Additionally, Georgetown and GWU students can vote in the Ward 2 race and students living in Wards 2, 4, 7, or 8 can vote in those contests.

2. Ward 5 Special Election, May 15^th

Offices at Stake: City Council, Ward 5

After the resignation of former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas following embezzlement felony charges, the seat representing Catholic and Trinity-Washington Universities will be filled in this special election near the very end of the semester.

All CUA and Trinity students are eligible to vote, and DC Students Speak is beginning to plan for another Candidate Forum (link: http://dcstudentsspeak.org/2011/04/04/at-large-candidate-forum-on-youth-issues-a-success/) on Student Issues like we did for an open At-Large seat last year.

3. General Federal Election, November 6^th 

Offices at Stake: Advisory Neighborhood Commissions 

    State Board of Education (Wards 2, 4, 7, 8, At-Large)

For students, this is the big one.  All 278 Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) seats citywide are up for election and students have a chance to win some on every campus and everywhere a decent percentage of students live.

Although not taking place until the Fall 2012 semester, this election can see students defeating neighbor incumbents and taking office in ANCs across the city, showcasing our voter-registration efforts over the past two years and allowing students to make a real impact on District politics.

Often overlooked, State Board of Education races will also be open for half the wards, including Georgetown and GWU’s campuses and electing another At-Large member to the 9-person board. This board makes decisions on DC educational policy, administers the District-wide CAS test to public school students, and distributes federal grants to DC Public Schools.

Because the Democrats and several Independents currently hold all seats on the DC Council, Councilmember seats are usually decided in the primary in April and this election serves mostly as a formality.  Minor candidates may run against Democratic victors in these races.

What You Can Do

Register to vote! DC Students Speak is currently planning a citywide voter registration drive and will be coming to your campus with forms and everything you need to get registered, and will even turn in your form for you!

Want to register now? Fill out, print, and mail this form to the DC Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) at 441 4^th St. NW, Suite 250 North, Washington, DC 20001.

If you’d like to get involved with DCSS and become part of our organization, please email a statement of interest to info@dcstudentsspeak.org.

Announcing the Spring DC Students Speak Voter Registration Drive

Michael Panek (American 2014)

In the past, we at DC Students Speak have complained about the lack of attention our elected officials pay to student interests.  In particular, City Councilmembers often look past student needs and opinions, as shown by last year’s passage of the new Noise Ordinance law and proposal of the Residential Parking Protection Act.

How do we currently hold our elected officials accountable?  Certainly not by voting.  Though college students make up a sixth of Washington DC’s 600,000 residents, we are an extremely small fraction of the District’s voting population (for example, less than 2% of American University’s on-campus residents voted in the fall 2010 elections).  Students overwhelmingly choose to vote by absentee in their hometown, or even not vote at all, over voting in DC’s elections.

This is wrong.  While we should demand that our politicians pay attention to student interests, we cannot expect that they will without us giving them a reason to do so.  If students registered to vote en mass, our elected officials would have great reason to consider student opinions when creating policy, rather than catering to other constituencies as they do now.  There is no better way for students to affect laws and rules in this city than by registering to vote.

This is why DC Students Speak is announcing its Spring Voter Registration Drive.  The drive, which will run from February 27^th to March 2^nd, has a goal of registering over 1,000 students to vote in the District’s primary elections in April.  By registering an extremely large group of students to vote, we can send a message to our elected officials in DC that we care about what happens in our city.

The Drive will operate at six college campuses:  George Washington University, Georgetown University, American University, Howard University, Catholic University of America, and Trinity-Washington University.  Students on each campus will be tabling and canvassing all week, seeking to engage students and remind them of the importance of voting in local elections.

If you are interested in volunteering at one of these campuses, or even registering to vote, contact the DCSS Chapter at your campus, or e-mail info@dcstudentsspeak.org.   Together, we can send our government a message that students care about how we’re represented, and we’ll show that on Election Day.

One City Summit

By Evan Brown (American 2014)

On February 11th, residents from all across the city, including college students, will be attending Mayor Gray’s One City Summit, a community conversation designed to open dialogue about improving the city. Several leaders from DC Students Speak will be in attendance.

It will take place from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM this Saturday at the Washington Convention Center. Lunch will be provided.

Mayor Gray issued a press release two weeks ago asking citizens to attend.

“Join me and 1,000 of your fellow D.C. residents on February 11 as we have a frank and open conversation about how we can work together to improve our city’s services, outcomes, environment and quality of life for all of our residents,” Mayor Gray said. “This citywide town-hall-style meeting will show us ways we can work together to move our city forward.”

“Have you ever wondered what ‘One City’ really means?” Mayor Gray said. “One City is not just a logo or a slogan. It is the recognition that all District residents, no matter their differences, are bound together by a common destiny and a shared desire to make the city even better for the people who live here.

We all want a vibrant, sustainable city, where all residents have an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, where every neighborhood is safe, where every student goes to a good school, where every tax dollar is spent wisely on a government that works and where citizens’ voices really count.”

Objectives of the summit, per the Mayor’s web site, include:

- Voting on specific priorities for action in the coming year

- Learning about current efforts to grow our economy, improve our schools, create more jobs, and other initiatives underway to move our city forward

- Participating in small group discussions with people from all over the city

- Identifying ways you can be more involved in future efforts to create a more unified city that works for everyone.

There is no question that Washington D.C. is in dire need of improvements. From the ethics problems on the DC Council, to WMATA repairs, to the problems of our schools, progress can be made in many ways.

Of course, all of us at DC Students Speak are invested not only in student rights, but in the welfare and well-being of the city as a whole. As college students, we hope to bring a fresh young perspective to the city, how policies affect us, how policies affect others, and how we think D.C. can become a better place for all. Join us as we participate in this conversation.

To sign up or find more information, visit http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5874/content_item/onecitysummit.

DCSS Tours Forgotten Tunnels of Dupont Underground

By Ricky Garza (Georgetown 2013)

On Sunday, February 5^th, members of DC Students Speak hailing from American, Catholic, Georgetown, and George Washington Universities gathered to tour the Dupont Underground, a network of abandoned tunnels and spaces once used in the ‘60s as a trolley station and briefly repurposed as a food court in the mid-‘90s.

Today, the Dupont Underground is in the early stages of planning and development aiming for an ambitious revitalization of the 75,000 sq. ft. space. Currently, the nonprofit Arts Coalition for the Dupont Underground is working with the city, which owns the property, to secure a release for the former trolley station.  Situated in a core urban location of the city, leaders of the redevelopment organization comprise designers, artists, and businesspeople.

Speaking to the group of students, project Managing Director Braulio Agnese believes the District is poised for a new entry onto the regional and national cultural scene.

Together, the Arts Coalition imagines an entirely revitalized underground urban institution in the heart of Dupont Circle highlighting the arts and cultural performances.  Looking to successfully revitalized urban spaces like the Waterloo Tunnels in London and the abandoned train tracks now called The Highline in New York City, the planners see a bright future for the District’s own Dupont Underground.

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Apply to be a Poll Worker

By Tyler Sadonis (American 2014)

College students in Washington D.C. are trying to increase their influence in local elections by registering to vote in the District. They represent a demographic that is 15% of the Washington D.C. population and contributes over 600,000 hours of service annually to the city. DC Students Speak strongly supports the right of all Washington D.C. college students to participate in the District’s elections.

Unfortunately, there have been coordinated efforts in years past to disenfranchise the college student voters. The right of college students to vote in Washington D.C. and have an influence over decisions regarding campus plans, zoning, noise ordinances, and other local issues is on the line Thirty-five American University students had their ballots challenged in a 2010 Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) election to elect two classmates and in a 1996 ANC election to elect two Georgetown University students, residents actively went through voter logs and singled out all college student voters. Ensuring a fair election means making the polling place friendly to college students.

That is why DC Students Speak strongly encourages all college students in Washington D.C. to apply to work at the polls in the upcoming 2012 election. Poll workers serve their community by helping at the polls to ensure that the election is carried out in a fair and efficient manner. College students who work at the polls help to create an environment that is friendly to other college student voters. They also have the opportunity to see the Democratic process first hand and make a salary of $120 to $160 depending on the position.

To apply to work at the polls in the upcoming April 3 Primary Election, please fill out the brief application form and e-mail it to electionworker@dcboee.org as soon as possible as spots are filling up quickly. Students with language skills in Spanish, Chinese, French, and Amheric are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information please visit the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics information page.

DCSS Pollworker Application
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New Progress in a New Year