The first student-run think tank at Syracuse University is focused on local policy research.

A chapter of the Roosevelt Institute, a nonprofit organization that aims to carry forward the legacy and values of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, was established this semester at SU. The organization is part of the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, the U.S.’s largest student policy organization.

The Roosevelt Institute is described on its website as an organization that crafts “a New Deal for the 21st century.” Their mission is based on three concepts: developing and promoting new ideas with long-term visions, developing the next generation of progressive leaders and grounding policy solutions based on the Roosevelt legacy.

The organization’s goal is to promote economic growth, have an equitable distribution of wealth and promote a political system that celebrates both the role of government and the role of citizens, according to the website.

Taylor Jo Isenberg, vice president of networks at the Roosevelt Institute, leads the 120 university chapters nationwide. Isenberg said the institute is focused on changing the conversation on issues for young people.

“We deeply believe that young people have the power and the vision to affect change,” Isenberg said.

The Campus Network program has 12,000 students on more than 100 college campuses in 38 states nationwide who are creating and implementing policy change, according to the website.

The vision of the Campus Network is that budding thinkers and doers can make a significant difference in the political process, and not just on Election Day, according to the website. The policy process — the way in which the rules of the government are developed — is a way in which young people can develop, advance and advocate for sustainable solutions.

“When the rules don’t work, it’s our responsibility to re-write them,” the website said.

Isenberg and her team are highly focused on elevating what students talk about in their individual chapters into a national dialogue that is crowd sourced.

“We are believers in that policy should come form the crowd up,” Isenberg said.

Every year, the institute publishes a “10 Ideas” series journal to elevate student policy change ideas in the six centers: energy and environment, defense and diplomacy, economic development, health care, equal justice and education. These journals are distributed onto the desks of decision makers, and serve as blueprints for action, according to the website.

Lower Northeast New Chapters Coordinator Rasheda Browne’s main job is to ensure that students are engaging in policy discussion and that they establish strong local policies.

“Students tend to look at how the universities are using their money and how this affects the local community as well as students,” Browne said.

SU’s Roosevelt Institute chapter recently held its second general interest meeting of the semester and there were more than 20 new and existing members in attendance.

“We are currently focused on trying to recruit people and build our e-board as well as becoming a recognized organization on campus,” said Weston Young, SU’s chapter president and founder and a senior policy studies and economics dual major.

Young said submitting at least 10 policies for the “10 Ideas” series is the organization’s first goal. The last day for the chapter to put in their intent to submit is Oct. 31.

Members of the chapter have already expressed ideas ranging from housing structure and zoning to equitable funding for public schools, Young said.

“We’re on our way to being a successful chapter, hopefully for many years to come,” he said.

Published on October 11, 2015 at 9:56 pm

Contact Stacy: sfern100@syr.edu | @StacyFernandezB