Attorney, student run for positions to unite city, U.

University affiliates have been nominated to serve in the New Brunswick Democratic Organization’s committee with intentions of integrating the University and the New Brunswick communities.
Attorney Nels Lauritzen, a member of the organization, and Rutgers College senior Tanya Lan Nguyen were nominated by the organization as potential candidates for the Democratic Committee in Ward Six, District 1, for the upcoming June 2 election, said the city’s Assistant Attorney T.K. Shamy, the organization’s chairman.
NBDO made the choices based on the nominee’s affiliations and hard work within the community, Shamy said.
“The committee person is supposed to be the eyes and ears of the community,” he said. “[Nguyen] has been very active in the college community with respect for her fellow students and [Lauritzen] has exhibited commitment to making New Brunswick better and that’s what we’re looking for.”
They were also elected because of their affiliation with the University, Shamy said.
”We want to work hand-in-hand with the Rutgers community,” Shamy said. “They’re certainly part of the New Brunswick community.”
If elected, Lauritzen said he and Nguyen will create a Office of Student Advocate elected by University students. The student advocate will serve as an adviser to the mayor and City Council.
”We’re trying to foster better ties between Rutgers students and NBDO,” said Lauritzen, a University alumnus.
The advocate will allow students to voice their concerns and he or she will bring that to the attention of the NBDO, he said.
“It’s going to help strengthen their voice in the community,” Lauritzen said.
Although the organization has worked with the University in the past, it is a matter of students getting involved, Shamy said. Lauritzen and Nguyen will be able to speak for many of the students.
The main issue he plans to address is overbooked housing, Lauritzen said. For students, living in hotels takes away the true college experience and is unfair.
“How are you going to be able to embrace yourself in Rutgers culture that way?” he said.
If elected, Nguyen and Lauritzen will advocate the University’s Residence Life Department and Off-Campus Housing Services to reach out to the city’s Rent Control and Housing Inspections Department to better coordinate students’ efforts in obtaining safe and affordable off-campus housing close to the University as opposed to living in hotels.
“There are Rutgers departments and city departments that can help that issue,” he said.
Nguyen said she and Lauritzen are a critical pair because he has a lot of experience with the New Brunswick community, and she has the same kind of experience with the University community.
“Coming from a student firsthand, I can see the issues students have to face because I’ve experienced it,” said Nguyen, president of the Rutgers pre-law society.
School of Arts and Sciences first-year student Aleeha Fazle said it is important that a student from the University is involved.
“I think it’s great that [Nguyen] is going to represent us,” Fazle said. “We really need someone experienced and motivated to speak out for us.”
New Jersey Tenants Organization President Matthew Shapiro said choosing Lauritzen as a nominee was a good decision on NBDO’s behalf.
“Nels has been helpful whenever we need it,” he said. “I have nothing but good praise for him.”
Nguyen said she hopes to get students of different backgrounds involved, such as students interested in environmental issues, political issues and students of all grade levels.
“Because there [are] so many of us, we need to find representatives from each group or field,” she said.
Nguyen said as an ambassador for the University, she wants to expand and help out the greater New Brunswick community as well.
“I’ve been an active part of Rutgers for a while and I want to reach out to the New Brunswick community,” she said.