This past August, in cooperation with Matthew T. Daggett '02 and University of Dayton sophomore Mark Peterson, Gaughan founded the Daggett, Gaughan and Peterson (DGP) Youth Hope Foundation.

"After coming back to school and talking with [Gaughan], I realized...that his town was very similar to mine," Daggett says. "My own home was not immune this."

After many hours of developing and criticizing their own ideas, "We wrote up a business plan, incorporated ourselves and applied for non-profit status," Gaughan says.

DGP was given non-profit status early this year.

A Long Road Ahead

Though both organizations have made efforts to publicize their causes on campus, YHAHV has found political action difficult to organize.

A February meeting of the organization featured State Senator Cheryl Jacques, a leading proponent of gun control. And at the end of this month, YHAHV will be involved in an Institute of Politics debate. Wahl hopes either Connecticut State Representative Carolyn McCarthy or gun control lobbyist Sarah Brady will speak at the debate.

Despite the organization's efforts, Wahl admits the group's membership is still primarily composed of first-years and says the group lacks sufficient campus support to impact the political process.