Students of Rexburg 101, a class to help college students further their education about how a government works, met at City Hall on Dec. 1 to participate in a mock elections.  Several students even signed up to run for mayor.

“My government professor, Brother [Kent] Marlor told us it would be an excellent learning experience,” said attending student, Sarah Gokey, a junior from Elkhart, Ind.

Shawn Larsen, Rexburg’s current mayor, issued the program. The class began last semester with high school students filling the participant’s roster for the pilot session. The program was eventually opened to college students this fall. 

Students who take Rexburg 101 are given the chance to learn how a city works.

“We strongly believe that this experience will be a dramatically positive force, not only to improve student and community relations, but also it will teach practical, applicable knowledge of community life. Those that attend these meetings will gain a powerful ability to be an influence for good in the future communities in which they live,” said Jared Mangum, sophomore from Princeton, Texas, and a student representative working with the mayor on Rexburg 101.

Mangum said normal attendance at these events is usually around 20 students from the class.

“You learn a lot of practical knowledge about the government,” Magnum said.

One winner of the mock elections included Julia Fullmer, a senior from Winchester, Va., as mayor, Mangum said. All of the students who attended Rexburg 101 will receive a certificate for completing the class on Dec. 7.

The class has discussed local government and municipal tax issues, had a tour of the police department, Emergency Services and City Hall in Rexburg; met with City Council Members and attended a City Council meeting; met with Department heads/Wastewater Treatment Plant and Thursday, they had the mock City Council election.

“Each one of these meetings is taught by the mayor or key members of the departments.   The class is organized in a loose setting with time for question and answer sessions,” Mangum said.

“This has been amazing. I have so much respect for Rexburg now,” Gokey said.

The class is open to the general student body at BYU-Idaho. However, the class size is limited.

Mangum encourages those who are interested in signing up for the class to email him, and he will add them to the list and send them all necessary information.

“In the Winter 2006 Semester, Rexburg 101 will be opened to the citizens of Rexburg so they can learn about their own community.  We hope to be able to open this class to college students every fall semester,” Mangum said.