Norton to Encourage American University Freshmen to Serve Their College Hometown and D.C. Statehood

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will explain D.C.'s many public service opportunities, particularly in a city without full citizenship rights, as she addresses the 600 entering students at the American University (AU) Freshman Service Experience on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Bender Arena, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. She will join the Freshman Service Experience in encouraging new AU students to take part in community service projects at 50 nonprofit organizations and schools throughout the District during their college years in the city. Norton said that in addition to discussing the many outstanding groups and organizations in D.C., she plans to challenge the students to volunteer their time in support of full citizenship rights for their college hometown.

"These students come to AU when our neighborhoods and volunteers have unusual needs that cannot be met by government alone. I know they can make a difference. At the same time, almost all of the 600 AU entering students hail from states where they take for granted rights they lose as residents of the District of Columbia. They will be amazed that much they have learned in high school doesn't apply in the nation's capital. D.C. doesn't have a member of the House or Senate who can express citizens' views through congressional votes, local laws respected by Congress, or local elected officials free to spend local funds without congressional interference. I therefore hope that some will also want to volunteer their time making sure their college hometown has the same rights as their local community, and over the course of their college careers, I have no doubt the AU students will understand and perhaps even join D.C.'s fight for statehood, and to obtain our equal rights."

Published: August 23, 2012