The students said it wasn't a typical final project, but it was a welcomed change from a research paper or the other usual culminations of a semester's worth of coursework.

Seven Suffolk University students, under Professor Michael Lavin, PhD, researched the town and organized a "community forum" for Wareham's town election candidates to sound off about the issues. The forum was sponsored by political action committee Move Wareham Forward and held Monday evening at Town Hall.

"It was a great way to tie up the semester," said student Paul McCormick, who moderated the event while his fellow students took audience questions and timed the candidates' responses.

The students are working toward their master's degrees in public administration at the Boston-based school, where Town Administrator Mark Andrews is listed as a "recent and current" lecturer in the same subject.

Move Wareham Forward's David Begley said the committee approached the university with the idea -- and the students ran with it.

Approximately three to four weeks ago, the students were given copies of Wareham's annual town report and instructed to visit the town and read news articles to learn about the issues, McCormick explained.

The students also came prepared with questions for the Board of Selectmen, Board of Assessors, and School Committee candidates running for seats in the April 3 town election.

"It was really enjoyable," said McCormick as his colleagues nodded in agreement.

Begley, husband of Selectman Ellen Begley, said he was impressed with the students' work, but disappointed that more candidates did not attend.

Amit Johar was the only of the five Selectman-hopefuls who attended. John Donahue, who is seeking a contested three-year seat on the Board of Assessors, and Brenda Eckstrom, who is running uncontested for a one-year Assessors seat, also attended.

All School Committee candidates seeking one of two seats -- incumbent Geoff Swett, Lynne Burroughs, and Michael Flaherty -- also participated.

"We knew it was an experiment," Begley explained, noting that he had heard that some candidates were concerned that the event would be political. He said he'd received notification from some candidates explaining why they could not attend.

Begley said that Board of Selectmen candidate Bruce Sauvageau wanted to attend -- saying he'd "debate with an empty chair" if he had to -- but is currently hospitalized, suffering from food poisoning, complicated by diabetes.

Asked if Move Wareham Forward would consider sponsoring a similar event next year, Begley said he wasn't sure.

"I think the idea is unique and it's worth looking into," he said.

Check back for photos from the forum!