Loyola students are known for speaking up and protesting when we see something wrong. We protest for climate justice, advocate for equality, and rally for human rights. But for some reason when it comes to the politics in the neighborhoods we live, study, celebrate, and exist in, far too many of us remain uneducated. National elections draw masses of attention on college campuses while local elections – the ones that decide what we pay for rent, public safety, and even the transportation pass by without a glance from most college students. 

If we all care about the community of New Orleans it is our civic duty to protect our city. Local politics often can seem like background noise, when in reality the decisions made by local governments affect our lives. The city council and mayor are constantly making choices that directly affect student experiences including housing affordability, transit, nightlife regulations, public safety, and flood policies. When younger voices stay silent, local decisions fail to reflect student priorities, like affordable rent or reliable transit. 

For example, think about off campus housing in the areas surrounding Loyola. In the past year the amount of vacant lots has skyrocketed because of the rule put into place that students must stay on campus for three years. This has caused rent to go up, which makes it harder for students to find housing for senior year. These issues are all determined by city government – by people that we could help elect. Consider transportation: have you ever waited 30 minutes for a streetcar that never came? Well that is a local decision. Even policies that affect the nightlife we love so much, from music permits to the nonexistent bar curfews, come on down to voting. 

Despite how much we are affected by local laws, student participation in New Orleans still remains low. Far too many students aren’t even registered to vote locally. Some of the most common arguments include: the fact that they didn’t know they could register outside of their hometown or some even assume that it isn’t their place since they don’t live here full time. Others are unsure of when the elections are and who is even on the ballot. It is really easy to feel disconnected from local politics when you will only live here for four years. That mindset overlooks something crucial, which is the fact that we are shaping the city based on our presence whether we vote or not. As students, we rent houses and apartments, take public transportation, and contribute to the overall economy and culture of New Orleans. 

So, my question is, why can’t we take the time out of our day to become educated on local issues so that we can vote for something that affects our lives and the lives of the people around us? Something that people don’t often realize is that choosing to not vote is an inherently political choice – it is a choice that leaves others in charge of what happens to the city we love and call home. Getting involved isn’t hard. You can simply register to vote in New Orleans by using your local address. This is possible even if you live in a dorm room or if your family is from a different state or city. Student led groups could partner with organizations to host registration drives and ballot information sessions. This would help students become more educated on what’s going on around them so that they feel more comfortable to vote on these issues. 

Now take a second and just imagine if even half of Loyola’s student body voted in our next city election. We could potentially influence policies like transit, housing, funding, and sustainability. Most importantly we would be doing our duty as residents of New Orleans (even if just temporarily) to positively affect our home. New Orleans is more than just where we will spend our college years. It is a city that we are inhabiting and affecting every single day. If we love our city’s music, culture, and community we also owe it our protection and participation. Change doesn’t have to happen in Washington – it can start with your name on a local ballot.