The dispute between students and non-student residents in Georgetown is not a new topic. As bad as tension in the neighborhood may be, it has also served as the catalyst for student involvement in local politics. Since the first students were elected to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in 1996, students and non-students have worked to reach a consensus on various problems that divide Georgetown and create an “us vs. them” mentality. With ANC elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, it is clear that although the issues have changed, the need for student representation remains. This year’s student candidates, Mike Glick (CAS ‘05), Mike Griffin (CAS ‘05) and Eric Lashner (CAS ‘05) are in a unique position, given the history of student involvement in the ANC. This election is markedly different than past elections because there is nothing driving students to the polls. In past years, students have been incensed by discrimination or injustice and turned out in high numbers to vote. Some ANC elections have coincided with presidential elections, causing more students to vote. However, this year, there is no salient issue to motivate students. The problem is that despite anticipated difficulties in getting students to go to the polls, the success of this year’s candidates depends largely on student votes.
WHAT IS THE ANC?
ANCs were created by Congress in 1973 as part of the Home Rule Act, which called for the creation of advisory boards in D.C. to allow citizen opinions to be represented on other governing bodies. District officials are required by law to hear the recommendations of the ANCs, but are not forced to follow them. ANCs also report to independent boards, like the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
The District is divided into 37 ANCs, each of which is divided into Single Member Districts, or SMDs. Georgetown falls in ANC 2E, which was originally divided in to 8 SMDs. ANCs deal with such issues as traffic, parking, development, recreation, street improvements, trash collection and, in the case of ANC 2E, student and non-student relations.
Based on the results of the 2000 Census, the D.C. City Council redrew the boundaries according to population shifts, thus reducing the number of SMDs in ANC 2E from eight to seven. The redistricting will take effect after the upcoming election
FOGARTY, SINDERBRAND AND THE START OF IT ALL
In the winter of 1995, the ANC proposed a limiting the number of non-related persons who could live in a house to three. Some believed this measure was specifically aimed at students, since it would raise rents and decrease the availability of housing convenient to campus. Ted Jacobs, an ANC commissioner at the time stated that, “We’re going to conquer the problem of students living in our midst. They belong on campus.” The proposal was approved by the ANC in April 1996 and sent to the Board of Zoning Adjustment, so its members could evaluate the necessity of limiting occupants. In September 1997, Georgetown University Student Association President John Cronan (CAS ‘98) met with then-Mayor Marion Barry to discuss the proposed zoning overlay and its possible effects on Georgetown students. Angry students attended a speech by Barry and spoke out against the measure. They argued that if passed, the overlay would cause students to pay almost double the rents they previously paid. At that time, the University, which had previously not committed to a position on the issue, stated it was against the overlay. In response Barry endorsed a modified version of the proposal that allowed up to six non-related persons to live in the same house. On Nov. 10, 1997, the Zoning Commission voted unanimously against imposing a limit on the number of people in one house, to the chagrin of many non-student residents. Peter Pulsifer, current chairman of ANC 2E, former president of the Burleith Citizens Association and a supporter of the overlay, expressed dismay with the decision. “I don’t understand how they made the decision without allowing the overlay proponents to say a word,” he said in an interview in November 1997.
In 1996, in the midst of the zoning overlay battle, the D.C. City Council, led by City Council Member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) passed a motion to deny students in Ward 2 reciprocity stickers for parking, effectively eliminating the ability of students to park in Georgetown. Residents, angered by the lack of parking in the areas surrounding the University, supported the measure.
According to Matt Ingham (CAS ‘04), current chairman of Campaign Georgetown, the parking issue and the zoning overlay were the key elements in the formation of the organization. Campaign Georgetown, an group committed to grassroots political techniques was founded in 1996 order to legitimately voice student concerns in local politics. Campaign Georgetown’s goal is to encourage students to register and vote in local elections. The group does not have access to benefits from the University because it endorses candidates in non-partisan elections, something that University-funded groups are not allowed to do. The first action of Campaign Georgetown was to support the candidacy of two students for seats on the ANC. John Fogarty (CAS ‘97) decided to run for the District Five seat, while Rebecca Sinderbrand (CAS ‘97) ran for the District Four seat. Tension between students and non-students in the community was heightened when then-Commissioner Westy Byrd, a vocal opponent of the University, publicly accused then-University President Leo O’Donovan of lying about the University’s intent to increase enrollment. Byrd distributed literature on campus stating that students could lose financial aid and face other consequences if they registered to vote in the District. Instead of discouraging students, Byrd’s efforts caused student registration to increase. Byrd was later investigated for intimidating voters.
Fogarty and Sinderbrand were elected in November 1996, officially introducing Georgetown students to the local political scene. Although Fogerty defeated incumbent Beverly Jost by a margin of 239 votes, Sinderbrand beat opponent Patricia Scolaro by only six votes. The slim margin, coupled with the fact that 360 students had voted in Sinderbrand’s district, prompted Scolaro and Jost to file a lawsuit arguing that students should not have the right to vote in the District because they are not full-time D.C. residents. Scolaro vs. Board of Elections was heard in both D.C. and federal courts over a two-year period. The courts deemed it a right of students enrolled in Georgetown to vote in the District since they submitted a local address on their voter registration forms. However, the case made it to the U.S. Court of Appeals, where it was thrown out.
1998: ESTABLISHING A PRECEDENT
Although both Fogerty and Sinderbrand were successful during their tenure as ANC commissioners, only one student, Matt Payne (CAS ‘00) decided to run in the 1998 elections in District Four. Although one resident started a write-in campaign, Payne was the only candidate on the ballot and thus clinched the election. Conflict between students and non-students had quieted considerably in comparison with the tumultuous 1996 elections, but there was still a definite division in the community.
The co-chairman of Campaign Georgetown at the time, John Ruggini (CAS ‘99), said during Payne’s campaign that running a student in District Five would actually hurt student-neighborhood relations more than it would help them. The non-student candidate for District Five, Peter Pulsifer, criticized Campaign Georgetown for not running a student against him, claiming that it caused the community to perceive students as ambivalent about local politics. Payne generally received a more positive response from non-student residents, who were more comfortable with being represented by a student after the 1996 elections. Current ANC Commissioner Justin Wagner (CAS ‘03), credits Payne with being instrumental in alleviating tension during his term between students and non-students.
At the end of Payne’s term, in the fall of 2000, the Alcohol and Beverage Commission denied Georgetown students an alcohol permit for the annual Block Party, which led to the cancellation of the event, despite support from the ANC. Non-student residents were relieved, as they had often cited Block Party as an example of drunken, disorderly students at their worst. Students were outraged, since Block Party was one of the most popular events on campus. Although a non-alcoholic version of the event was approved, students remained disgruntled.
KOPA, WAGNER AND THE TEN YEAR PLAN
In 2000, two students, Wagner and Justin Kopa (CAS ‘03), ran for seats on the ANC, Kopa in District 4 and Wagner in District 5. Relations between students and non-students were strained, due to conflicts between the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the University over the proposed Ten Year Plan.
As a result of zoning regulations adopted in 1958, the University is required to submit a 10-year plan, first to ANC 2E and then to the BZA for approval. In July 2000, Georgetown submitted a plan calling for the addition of four new buildings, the renovation of several existing buildings and an enrollment increase of 389 students, which would cause an increase in the number of students living off campus. The BZA postponed approval of the plan twice, stating that the University failed to address community concerns about students living off campus. In the fall of 2000, the ANC approved the Ten Year Plan, noting that commissioners would work to maintain proper student conduct in the community. On Nov. 8, 2000, the BZA conditionally approved the plan due to Georgetown’s enactment of initiatives to regulate off-campus students. However, on August 6, 2001, the BZA presented the University with a list of 19 conditions that it must comply with in order to maintain approval. Many of the conditions incensed students. The BZA stated that “off-campus housing is a privilege that can be revoked due to student misconduct, whether a violation occurs on or off campus.” It stipulated that the University must report conduct violations of students that live off campus to their landlords, their parents and to appropriate government institutions. It also stated that incidents of student misconduct be made public and that the University report them quarterly to groups such as the ANC, the D.C. Office of Planning and the Alliance for Local Living. Finally, the BZA ordered the University to keep a list of student license plate numbers and refuse parking privileges to students who do not register their cars in the District.
Infuriated by the discriminatory nature of the conditions proposed by the BZA, students cited the D.C. Human Rights Act, which states people can not be discriminated against “by reason of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income and place of residence or business.” Students claimed to be a protected under the act as a response to the efforts in 2000 by the District Office of Planning to disqualify them as a protected group.
On Sept. 4, 2002, Wagner and Kopa introduced a student bill of rights, which would establish a precedent for the treatment of students in the community and further neighborhood relations.
In a report to the ANC Tuesday night about the state of the town-gown relationship, Wagner said that over the past two years, students and non-students have worked together to overcome tension and build a united community.
He stated that due to increased dialogue, a new sense of respect between students and non-students and new incentives and programs, students and non-students are now able to interact with much less conflict.
“There will always be unresolved issues and natural tension. We have made remarkable progress and a positive, respectful relationship has begun to take hold. We have gotten past the problems of the past to reach new consensus in the community,” Wagner said.
Kopa stated that due to the history of student involvement with the ANC, he and Wagner had unique opportunity during their terms.
“People were more comfortable with having students on the ANC. We had won the right to be there, so that wasn’t an issue anymore The two of us were able to spend time working on issues to improve the community,” Kopa said.
Kopa pointed to his involvement with issues not specific to students, like parking, and his position against all-you-can-drink specials at bars as evidence that students on the ANC look to represent both students and non-students.
“A lot of people have come around to the idea that students have serious concerns about the community. This helped decrease tension, because non-students realized they could communicate with students instead of using legal means,” Kopa said.
Commissioner Len Levine also remarked on the decrease in tension over the past two years.
“This community has worked hard to get to where we are. The level of sensitivity is wonderful. We must work hard to ensure that the next batch of students keeps the same kind of culture as these students have developed,” Levine said.
TWO MIKES AND AN ERIC
Tuesday’s election will be markedly different than elections in the past. Due to the redistricting last year, Georgetown’s campus is now divided into three SMDs instead of two, making it possible for three students to run for seats on the ANC. This year Eric Lashner (CAS ‘05), Mike Griffin (CAS ‘05), Mike Glick (CAS ‘05) and will campaign in Districts 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Lashner is running against Robert Blair and Jason Hurdle, Glick is running against William Skelsey, and Glick is running unopposed as a write-in candidate.
When talk of redistricting first began, there were two proposals for redrawing the boundaries: The first outlined four districts with a mix of student residents and non-student residents and three made up exclusively of non-students, and the second called for two all-student districts and five non-student districts. The plan that was finally accepted was a compromise of the original two proposals, creating one all-student district, two districts composed of both students and non-students and four districts made up primarily of non-students.
The two student ANC commissioners, Kopa and Wagner, did not support the creation of an all-student district. Kopa stated that although the all-student district was created in order to insure students a voice on the ANC, it limits discussion between students and non-students.
“All-student districts are not beneficial to either students or non-students. Mixed districts cause both students and non-students to learn about and appreciate each other’s concerns,” Kopa said.
All three candidates became interested in local politics after getting involved with Campaign Georgetown during their first year at Georgetown.
“When I first came to Georgetown, I became interested in local politics and students’ rights. I joined Campaign Georgetown and started going to ANC meetings. Last spring, I decided to run for the ANC, so I stayed here this summer,” Lashner said.
Similarly, Griffin decided to run last year after being asked by peers and discussing it with Kopa, Wagner and his parents. He stated that he decided to run due to the need for someone to represent the student population.
“The ANC without a student voice is something that would not benefit both students and non-students. Students are sizeable minority in the community and it is important that their concerns are addressed,” Griffin said.
In order to be placed on the ballot, candidates must establish residency in their district 60 days before officially declaring their intent to run. Both Lashner and Griffin stayed on campus this summer in order to achieve eligibility. In addition, they had to collect the signatures of 25 registered voters, which they did by knocking on doors in their districts over the summer.
Unlike the other two candidates, Glick is not actually on the ballot, but is running as a write-in candidate. Glick did not decide to run for office until he returned to campus this fall and discovered no students had decided to run in District Four, the district comprised entirely of students.
“Running as a write-in candidate is what grassroots politics is all about. I am honored that I may be the first person some of my constituents ever vote for,” Glick said.
This election differs from other ANC elections involving students because it does not have a specific issue as its focus. According to Ingham, this has made rallying student support slightly more difficult than in the past.
“It’s been more difficult since there is no salient issue to get students to the polls. There was a lawsuit in 1996 and conflicts carried over through the 1998 and 2000 elections. Also in 2000 there was a presidential election, which caused a greater number of students to turn out. This year, we are anticipating a difficulty in motivating students to go to the polls,” Ingham said.
Drew Johnson-Skinner (CAS ‘04), co-chair of Campaign Georgetown, noted that the absence of a focal issue could also be construed positively.
“There is also a good side to this; there is not a huge issue of students being discriminated against. Campaign Georgetown is seeing progress. Both students and non-students are satisfied,” he said.
However, although tension between students and non-students has notably decreased, candidates still note the presence of an “us vs. them” mentality.
“Since violations of student rights aren’t really on the table, I want to focus on creating one community. There is still a division between students and non-students that is visible in the papers and in comments people have made. I want to change the tone in Georgetown, but that requires small steps over time,” Glick said.
According to Lashner, student involvement in local politics helps break down the divisions in the community. He said that both students and non-students are citizens of Georgetown and the campaign should focus on issues rather than taking sides.
All three candidates noted that some of their opponents have tried to insinuate that electing three students will cause students to control too much of the ANC.
Griffin’s opponent, Skelsey stated in his fliers that, “While Bill [Skelsey] is a strong supporter of student representation on the ANC it is possible that students could hold three of the seven seats on our ANC. Please consider if you are comfortable with this proportion of student representation on the ANC.”
Skelsey denied, however, that any lines were being drawn between students and non-students.
“I don’t think this campaign is focused on “us vs. them.” People are more focused on quality of life issues that effect everyone. We need to look at the community as a whole … although I didn’t live here during the height of the tension, I think things are far improved,” Skelsey said.
One of Lashner’s opponents, Hurdle said that he felt he could best represent his district because he “[is] a resident, homeowner and someone raising a family here.”
Student candidates stated that they are not running in order to gain control of the ANC, but instead to lend student opinion to local politics.
“The idea is that we are not trying to take over, we are trying to make a difference,” Lashner said.
Both Lashner’s and Griffin’s platforms involve not only strengthening the relationship between the University and the community, but also on solving traffic problems, ensuring safety and creating block captains, off-campus students who would be resources for both students and non-students in the community.
Since Glick’s constituency is composed entirely of students, his platform focuses mainly on addressing student concerns. “The all-student district allows me to represent student ideals. I want to bring out student concerns … while working to unite the goals of both students and non students,” Glick said.
As the election nears, candidates are focusing more on motivating students to vote. According to Johnson-Skinner, students, especially first-years, have responded enthusiastically to voter registration drives. Johnson-Skinner said that although first-year students usually register with higher frequency, he was surprised by the number of upperclass and transfer students that registered to vote.
However, the efforts of Campaign Georgetown and the candidates will not be fully realized until students actually go to the polls on Nov. 5.
“We actually have to fight two battles,” Ingham said. “One in convincing students to register, and the other in getting them to go out and vote.”
According to Kopa, if elected, student representatives face the challenge of continuing the work that has been done in the past two years. “A lot has happened?there is a precedent for students to be active and engage in dialogue,” Kopa said.
Regardless of the outcome of the election, students will continue to be involved in the ANC.
“Both students and Campaign Georgetown will still be a voice in the community regardless of the number of students on ANC. There are city wide issues, like safety and construction, that effect our lives,” Griffin said.
