Student involvement in Lower Merion government considered
In 2008, Saint Joseph’s University acquired 38 acres of the Episcopal Academy, increasing the size of the campus. This addition allowed St. Joe’s footprint to extend through City Avenue and into Lower Merion Township.
The relationship between St. Joe’s and its surrounding district is important for fostering good community relations with the study body.
Joe DiAngelo, Ed.D., Dean of the Haub School of Business, suggested a solution to the lack of student representation in these areas: have a student run for a position on the Board of Commissioners.
DiAngelo is an advocate for students becoming involved in local government.
“We are members of Lower Merion Township, like everyone else, and we should participate in the political process so we can have a say in the environment that impacts us,” DiAngelo said.
However, creating this position may prove difficult.
“We want to make sure that Lower Merion is sensitive to our interests, [yet] you can’t be guaranteed that [the student-held position] is going to survive more than a couple of years,” said Randall Miller, Ph.D., chair of the history department.
A hurdle that students may encounter when running for the board is the fact that the university is spread across two municipalities. This extension limits the amount of time that the average student spends or lives in Lower Merion Township.
Students are only able to participate in the local government that corresponds with where they reside.
City Avenue splits St. Joe’s into two municipalities, with Philadelphia County on the right in this photo, and
Montgomery County on the left. (Photo by Luke Malanga, ’20)
“While I think it would be a wonderful idea, I don’t think it would be feasible or plausible to happen,” said Patty Martin, the Director of St. Joe’s Government Relations. “Kids are going to live in the residence halls for two years and [then] 80 percent of them are going to move off campus.”
The unpredictability of students living for four years in Lower Merion is something that cannot be overlooked when participating in local government, however. Some see this as a minor detail and know there are ways to work around the system.
“If there were students who were passionate enough to vote and wanted to be involved in the political process, we’d make sure they were still assigned to [live on] the Lower Merion Side [of campus],” DiAngelo said.
A major challenge for students is getting enough voter support, especially in a short time period. This potential road block can be avoided if more students are persuaded to become involved in other activities outside of St. Joe’s, including local politics.
Gregory Dexter, ’18, suggested that students are not heavily involved in activities that do not pertain to St. Joe’s.
“They are involved in stuff that St. Joe’s goes out and procures for them,” Dexter said. “I don’t think there is a lot of push for people seeking out their own opportunity. The opportunity that I [personally] sought out was not affiliated with St. Joe’s whatsoever.”
Lower Merion Township offers the opportunity for students to work with local government committees with possible summer internships, according to Brian Gordon, Chair for the 12th Ward of Lower Merion Township.Gordon cited one specific example of an internship, with the Botanical Society of Lower Merion.
“[The Botanical Society of Lower Merion] would love for students to become members,” Gordon said.
Their role is to manage the Botanical Gardens near St. Joe’s campus, a place some students use for recreational purposes.
“At least you would have a public forum to express that concern, which, in the short run, might not affect a change in policy but could enter into the discussion about what policies may or may not be considered,” Miller said.
Approximately 500 students live on the Lower Merion side of campus. Becoming an advocate for change in the district could pose challenges, but could also benefit students and the university in the long run.
“I would never discourage a student from being involved in local government,” Martin said. “I think it’s an amazing experience and one that opens your eyes to the process and the people.”
