Undergraduates have long felt disenfranchised by the City of College Park. With graying politicians running the show, many students have felt their concerns and opinions go ignored or dismissed based on officials’ perceptions of their youth and temporary status. To be fair, students have done their part to give such dismissals ammunition by shying away from local elections and not turning out to open College Park City Council meetings, where issues that impact students directly are often debated.
But in the College Park, undergraduates may soon have a place at the table. The city council will debate a proposed amendment to the city’s charter that would enable a city resident as young as 18 to run for a seat on the council. Such an amendment would be a remarkable change to the charter as it stands, which requires council members be at least 21 years old and a registered city voter for no less than one year.
Even if approved, the amendment will merely present an opportunity for students — it will not make it any easier for an undergraduate to successfully run for a city post.
The fact of the matter is many city residents harbor a certain amount of disdain for students, whose booming house parties and late-night lifestyles often conflict with the interests of older residents. This divide has made it difficult for students who met the age requirement to get elected in the past.
The last two undergraduate students to attempt such a feat have failed. And although students under the age of 21 will no doubt face an uphill battle, this editorial board believes there are students engaged enough, serious enough and ambitious enough to make the climb.
The council’s student representation is small, consisting only of District 4 Councilman Marcus Afzali, who was elected as a graduate student and introduced the amendment. However, this lack of representation makes the prospect of an undergraduate council member all the more appealing.
There are several city-wide issues that an undergraduate candidate could capitalize on to bring students to the polls — from parking regulations to the retention of local businesses to noise control. This candidate would need to demonstrate to students why an undergraduate voice on the eight-member council is needed while also showing city residents he or she is informed and serious about improving the quality of life in College Park.
As Afzali and others have noted, a prospective undergraduate council member would have to be focused and committed to win an election. And with students spread throughout College Park’s four districts, he or she would need to be able to attract support — and votes — from both students and residents.
Although it seems inherently unlikely an undergraduate could secure a spot on the city council anytime soon, we welcome the prospect and encourage the city to do the same.
This is a community that has often seen city pitted against university in regards to policy and development disagreements. Opening the door for a possible student council member would not only be a victory for the more than 26,000 undergraduates at this university, but it would also be a step toward creating a more inclusive — and livable — community.
