Public Affairs Organizations deal with topics heard in the discourse of broad segments of communities.

Examples of such topics                                    Examples of such organizations
race relations                                                         SSpARC (Students Speaking About Race and Culture)
technological change                                             SEAC (Student Environmental Awareness Coalition)
when punishment is justified                                 Undergraduate Philosophy Association
role of the media                                                    Stanford Daily
obligations of a university                                     Stanford Debate

There are a number of student groups on campus whose activities involve issues that are part of the dialogue across the Stanford community, and the many communities of which it is a part -- for instance, the state of California, the universities of the world, and the human community.

These student groups are diverse.  They include academic cluvs and teams, theme houses, public service organizations, political/social action groups, cultural/ethnic organizations, the ASSU, and student publications.

Because these organizations stem from different branches of the University, they have not been able to coordinate activities between them -- even when they have a common mission.  As an example, the academic clubs have no direct connection with the cultural organizations.  When the Undergraduate Philosophy Association plans a weekend seminar on feminist philosophy, the Stanford Women's Coalition is unlikely to know about it to offer it help.