By Emily Baldauf
Staff Writer

A class project has turned into something much bigger for five Purdue students.

These students, who are all part of Communication 491S, Special Topics in Communication, are using their senior public relations project as an opportunity to promote the census on the Purdue campus.

At the beginning of the spring semester, students enrolled in the class were divided into small groups and given their semester project of choosing a group or event to publicize on campus.

Students could choose to promote anything they desired. For example, one group is working on publicizing a local band while another is trying to raise money for the dance team.

This particular group chose the census after one member in the group brought up the idea because of her personal experience in West Lafayette government.

The group has been working closely with another Purdue student who is active in government, Lacey Clinkenbeard. Lacey is the student representative of the Complete Count Committee of Tippecanoe County, and a junior in the School of Liberal Arts.

"When they presented the idea I thought it was great because they have a stake and responsibility in the project, and they have the expertise to do a good job," said Clinkenbeard.

So far the group has been working on press releases, mass e-mails, sheet signs, presentations for student organizations, a Web site and fliers.

"They've been working really hard; I think you will start seeing results and more output during census week," said Clinkenbeard.

Students involved feel they are getting a lot more than a grade out of this project. "I don't think most public relations classes really get a chance to work with the government and people like this," said Julia Tuohy, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts.

"I am learning that this is a lot of fun, and that teamwork really does get things done," said Cynthia Chorney, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts. "I do think this is a good assignment because we're doing real work with people in the community and are actually out there in the real world learning what it is like."

The students involved with the project hope the effects of this class assignment will have an impact on Purdue students and the entire West Lafayette community.

"They're not doing this just for a project," said Clinkenbeard. "The census is a big deal and it will affect Purdue students from now until 2010."