The GW chapter of the Roosevelt Institution, a national collegiate think tank, officially began in 2006 at a large banquet in the Marvin Center, but now the organization remains largely inactive.

Only four GW students participated in the national organization’s most recent journal, “Roosevelt Rx: Student Ideas for Health Policy,” last month.

“The leadership left last year,” said senior Julia Battocchi, who submitted a piece for the September journal. “The chapter isn’t really happening right now, although some of us would like to bring it back.”

The Roosevelt Institution, which launched nationally in fall 2005, has chapters on 82 campuses, with almost 7,000 members that conduct policy research to give students a platform to influence American politics. Journals and reviews contain articles about international trade, poverty, the economy, the environment and health care.

Orriel L. Richardson, a graduate student and co-president of GW’s chapter, said she plans to reinvigorate the organization’s presence in Foggy Bottom.

GW Roosevelt will seek to establish a membership of both undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in progressive policy solutions,” Richardson said. “We will host a symposium on a current policy issue in the spring and publish the first edition of The GW Roosevelt Institution Journal.”

Richardson described her desire for the chapter to “provide a forum for expressing and implementing the public policy ideas of students at GW, while offering the immediate communities fresh discourse presenting progressive, nonpartisan policy and advocacy programs.”

In addition to Battocchi, none of the students who participated in the September journal – including graduate students Brad Finnegan, Saqi Melaque and Mariza Hardin – are directly involved with the GW chapter.

“It’s a great organization that allows young people to have a real voice in informing decision-makers and certainly the GW chapter can play a key role because of its proximity,” Finnegan said.

The graduate student spoke recently at the Hart Senate Office Building about voting trends among young voters and how this demographic is beginning to realize its power during elections. He noted that the rate of young voters increased in 2004 and spiked further in the 2008 primaries, suggesting more interest among youth.

Finnegan said, “It’s always exciting any time you get the opportunity to speak and share knowledge with members of the House committee and Senate committee.”