CLASS brings students into public arena

AUSTIN - The Mayoral Candidate Debate on April 22nd is being presented by KXAN, the Center for Politics and Governance, and CLASS. Both KXAN and CPG are known, but just who is CLASS?

CLASS stands for Citizens for Local and State Service. The group started in November of last year at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. The idea for CLASS came from several students at the LBJ School who wanted to unite students with an interest in local governance issues.

The mission statement of CLASS is straightforward: to promote awareness of and involvement in local and state government. The goal of the group is not, however, to engage students and citizens in specific issues; CLASS should not be understood as an advocacy organization. Rather, CLASS’s primary aim is to familiarize participants with the machinery of government.

Given the many processes at work in local government, especially in Austin, CLASS organized regular outings to government meetings to witness politics in action. Fieldtrips included city council, planning commission, school board, and neighborhood association meetings. Since many of the group’s members already are involved in various issues and organizations around town, plugging into the existing network was easy.

CLASS grew quickly from a handful of students to a recognizable force at the LBJ School. It was CLASS members who originated the idea of an Austin mayoral candidate debate. Partnering first with the Center for Politics and Governance, a research center also based at the LBJ School, and later with KXAN, CLASS soon turned the idea into its marquee event.

Now, just before the debate, CLASS members couldn’t be happier with how the year has turned out. There has been great response from the LBJ School community at large, with the candidates’ campaigns, and others. With such opportunities in the Austin area, CLASS is looking to expand its programming next fall.

Jordan R. Munn is a graduate student at the LBJ School and incoming President of the Graduate Public Affairs Council. He focuses on city management and finance. He can be reached by email at jordan_r_munn@yahoo.com.