In January, a group of University students made the unexpected move of forming a political party to run for Ann Arbor City Council. The party, coined the Mixed Use Party, seeks to select candidates to run in four of the city’s five wards. Seeing as so many of Ann Arbor’s residents are students who currently have no peer representative voice in the city’s operations, the Mixed Use Party fills a longstanding void in city politics. The party’s effort to elect a student for city council is a positive step toward involving students in the city and spreading awareness about the particular problems students face.

Since the mid-1970s city council has gone without representation from University students. Many students hold jobs, pay taxes and vote in the city of Ann Arbor. A student holding a city council position would greatly increase the connection the University has with the city and the rest of its residents. Though their platform needs work, the Mixed Use Party has taken the first step in creating the necessary attention and support for their initiative.

Unfortunately, city council members have continuously discouraged students from running for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the majority of students here aren't permanent residents. Recently, Ann Arbor city wards were redistricted so student voters now make up the minority in each ward. In addition, fraternities, sororities and co-ops aren't allowed in R1, R2A or R3 districts, which cover a large section of the city.

If elected, the Mixed Use Party needs to address a variety of student corncerns and look beyond the issues surrounding housing for Greek life and students in co-ops. One key issue is rezoning districts so that students are better represented in the city council. The party should also campaign for more adequate off-campus housing inspection. Moreover, candidates chosen by the Mixed Use Party must strive to enhance the overall relationship between city council leaders and the University. By creating a closer relationship, students will play a more vocal role in citywide matters.

With a large potential voter base and focus on student issues, the Mixed Use Party has the potential to better integrate students into Ann Arbor. Students have the right to representation in the city where they reside, and there’s no better place for that representation than city council. As a major constituency of Ann Arbor, the students’ voices deserve to be heard — loud and clear.