Tennessee native and ex-presidential candidate Lamar Alexander began teaching at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) yesterday as the Goodman Visiting Professor of Practice in Public Service.

The former Republican governor of Tennessee--known best for his plaid shirts and for walking across the state of Tennessee during campaigns--will be teaching a course called "The Ultimate Start-up: The American Presidential Campaign."

Students in the class will try to improve the current electoral system by proposing campaign finance laws, re-structuring the primary system and proposing other electoral reforms. Alexander said he is "intrigued with the idea of the American character," and feels that the American electoral process no longer reflects that character.

"The presidential election must symbolize American possibility," Alexander said. "But that system is broken."

Alexander said his course will examine the problems with today's elections, such as "crowded schedules [that] close primaries to worthy competitors...and media and money [making] decisions voters should be making."

"This means much more than just counting votes," Alexander said, alluding to the recent election problems in Florida.

KSG's Academic Dean Frederick Schauer said that Alexander's class will help students remain interested in the electoral process despite its failings.

"There's concern that electoral politics is not as appealing," Schauer said. "It's important in a sense to demonstrate to students the possibilities in elections."