21-only foe is new UI appointee to Iowa City Council

Raj Patel, who initiated last year's effort to try to repeal Iowa City's 21-only law, is the new University of Iowa student liaison to the City Council.

The council approved the 20-year-old Patel's appointment at its April 19 meeting. He will serve in the post for one year starting May 1, representing the UI's 30,000 students. The liaison position does not have a vote on the seven-member council but the person participates at work sessions and sits with council members.

A year ago, Patel filed the paperwork that ultimately led to the public voting on the city's newly passed law that bans people younger than 21 from Iowa City bars after 10 p.m. Patel also co-founded the Y.E.S.S. to 19 political action committee that advocated against the law.

Voters upheld the 21-only law in November 52 percent to 48 percent.

He said that when he spoke before the council this week, he joked about his work against the law.

Patel said his priorities as student liaison include lowering the fine for being underage in a bar after 10 p.m., making the university charge card more accessible with downtown businesses, keeping downtown Iowa City vibrant and student friendly and providing students with community service opportunities outside campus.

Patel, a sophomore from Burlington, served two terms as an at-large senator on UI Student Government. He succeeds Elliot Higgins, the new UI student body president, as the student liaison to the City Council.