Class Councils is the oldest form of student government at Texas A&M, the unseen and unspoken actor in the ecosystem of the administrative undergraduate body.

Originating in 1889 and predating the Student Government Association by 58 years, it is responsible for the major class traditions of each class: Fish Fest, Pull Out Day, Legacy Night, Elephant Walk and Ring Dance. These events are core to the defining culture of A&M. Class Councils, led by the student class presidents, is responsible for the development and creation of Class Gifts — including many of the monuments on campus — which have a rich tradition that stretches back over 100 years.

The rich tradition of Class Councils, however, is under assault. Behind closed doors, class presidents, who have control of the board, are currently working to remove themselves from Class Councils and abandon the idea of unity through tradition. 

This division is not public knowledge, and I was only recently told during a staff meeting that money promised to us by the Sophomore Class President to use for Pull Out Day is now being withheld because of the impending split. General members of Class Councils do not know this is happening, and no one from our management staff or any class president has said anything about the consideration of this split. 

These actions must be put in context. The Class of 2028 hasn’t had a single class meeting since the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. As a member of the Class of ‘28, — let alone an active participant of Class Councils — I have yet to be formally introduced to any member of my Class Cabinet. The Class of 2028 council members haven’t communicated any sort of plan or vision for the year, be it formally or informally. From what I understand, this is an issue also being faced by the classes of 2026, 2027 and 2029.  

The decision by the class presidents to remove themselves without the input of anyone else is a pattern of behavior and an absence of leadership at the most extreme level. Not only has there been a consistent lack of effort to carry out their responsibilities, but this negligence has now been weaponized, morphing into full-blown organizational sabotage.

According to the Class Councils’ constitution, Class Traditions and Class Gifts fundraising is the primary responsibility of each class president. They must “hold ultimate responsibility for and authority over their Class Fund alongside the Class Treasurer in accordance with Student Activities organization policy.” The removal of these individuals and their roles creates a noticeable vacuum in how traditions and gifts are paid for. 

This begs the question: Will the class presidents take this authority with them? If they do, what is there left for Class Councils to do? 

Already, there have been organizational moves to separate traditions’ funds from class presidencies without the consent of the general council. What’s even more jarring is that this separation of accounts was made under pretenses and only declared once the change had taken place. 

Changes of this magnitude are required by our constitution to be voted on and approved by a two-thirds majority of general council members. But, it is clear now: Leadership within Class Councils is determined to undermine the democratic processes of our organizational constitution and has been working for months to completely dismantle this organization.

We must reconsider the implications of the process by which these decisions are made. In a time when this university is facing national scrutiny for infringement upon academic freedom, our student leaders are now choosing to violate the basic principles of democracy. 

What does this say about us? What does this do to our reputation as Aggies? Are we who we say we are? In what way do closed-door meetings fit into our values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service? 

To the members of Class Councils, you must question everything: Why would our leadership do this, why do they not trust us to have this conversation, why is our organization being gutted and what will we do about it?

To our class presidents, why are you insisting on this change? On what grounds is our current constitution and tradition of operations invalid? Can you honestly say that you will be able to have a greater impact without the support of our council members? Did you ever really try to work with our council members in support of the traditions that Class Councils is dedicated to? 

There is no reason why open conversations and debate should not take place.We need to stand up for Class Councils and have this overdue conversation in the open. 

August Pritzlaff is a political science sophomore, Class Councils Pull Out Day Director of Logistics and guest contributor to The Battalion.