Each year, members of Congress designate one week in February to return home to their district to meet with constituents to listen to their questions and concerns. The most effective way of doing this is by holding public town hall events throughout the district. Town halls give constituents the opportunity to gather and have an open discussion with their elected officials.

U.S. Representative Steve Stivers, R-15, resides in the affluent Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington. His three district offices are in Lancaster, Hilliard and Wilmington. For his Athens constituents, Lancaster is the closest office, but it is still more than 45 minutes away by car, something many students don’t have on campus.

This month, Stivers will be home the 20th through 24th to meet with his constituents. Instead of holding public town halls in various cities throughout his district, he’s only having individual, 20-minute meetings with constituents who can transport themselves to his Hilliard office, an hour and a half drive from Athens.