Adrian Stancil-Martin, a first-year Lawrence University student, has quickly made himself at home on campus and in the City of Appleton.
The government and philosophy double major from Washington Heights in New York City immediately jumped into Lawrence’s extracurriculars, joining the Model UN team, the Judicial Board, Lawrence Student Democrats, and Lawrence University Community Council (LUCC).
And this spring, he ran for an open seat on the city’s Common Council. And won. He was elected April 1, less than seven months after arriving at Lawrence.
“I knew that something I wanted to do when I got to college was be involved with the student community,” Stancil-Martin said. “I enjoy keeping myself busy. I hate having a Saturday where I have nothing to do.”
Stancil-Martin joined Lawrence Student Democrats just before the 2024 election, so he was immediately involved with canvassing and door-knocking to rally voters, which he said was a vital skill for his own campaign. Then, when Common Council member Kris Alfheim won a State Senate seat and vacated her position as alderperson, Stancil-Martin decided to run for the open seat.
“I used a lot of what I learned while door-knocking for the election in November,” he said. “I’d go around introducing myself, asking what concerns people have on the local level, and how I can advocate for them if elected on the council.”
Stancil-Martin’s goal in this seat is to use his position as a Lawrence student to bridge gaps between the university and the wider community. He’s committed to representing everyone’s interests, regardless of political position.
“I stuck to my passions,” he said. “Talking about where we can find common ground on issues. There’s plenty of residents who didn’t vote for me, but the election’s over, and now my job is to represent everyone in the district as best as I can.”
Another of his most important goals is to be accessible to those he represents.
“I want students and other residents of the district to hold me accountable,” he said. “If you’re a student or a resident, you can always stop me and ask me questions or tell me what you want to see, and I’ll never shrug you off.”
Stancil-Martin came to Lawrence looking for a well-rounded, liberal arts education, which he said has been a blessing. He thanked Katie Van Zeeland, a Lawrence staff member, and Martyn Smith, associate professor of religious studies, for their guidance. Both are sitting members of the Common Council.
“I love it here,” Stancil-Martin said. “I love going to Cabaret, I love seeing how supportive students are. I committed in December, so really early, and I’ve never regretted my decision to come here. I don’t think I ever will.”
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