To complement and expand opportunities for Union's students to be involved in direct political action, John Zumbrunnen and colleague Richard Fox, both of the Political Science Department, plan to start a Political Engagement Center.
“Many college students want to be engaged in public service and problem solving in their communities, but they don't know how to do it in a way that might make a difference,” Zumbrunnen says. “The Political Engagement Center is designed to open more opportunities along these lines.”
The Center plans to focus on four modes of civic and political engagement:
- Community Problem-Solving-encouraging students to work directly with community leaders and organizations to identify problems and to create and implement solutions.
- Political Advocacy-While the Center is nonpartisan and
ideologically neutral, it supports political advocacy by student groups working for or against political change. - Investigative Research-In the tradition of investigative journalism, students will be encouraged to bring to the public's attention social and political issues that need to be addressed by the political system.
- Public Policy Research-Students will work closely with political advocacy groups, private organizations, government agencies, and state and local officeholders to gather information, conduct research, and issue reports to be used in ongoing policy debates.
Next academic year, a core group of faculty from various departments will begin to implement political action components in their courses while the Center seeks funding and other support, hoping to establish and maintain links with community organizations and agencies while providing grants and other resources to students for political action projects.