Committees to combine, discuss community issues

By Luis Jiménez
Summer Reporter

Purdue president Martin Jischke and West Lafayette Mayor Sonya Margerum announced Wednesday the formation of two standing committees that will work together to address common community issues.

The announcement was made during WBAA radio's "AM-920 Magazine."

The committees are being formed as a result of a "Town and Gown" report done by an advisory committee comprised of University and West Lafayette representatives. The committee studied issues raised by the impact of Purdue in the West Lafayette community. "Town and Gown" refers to the dynamics of a college town such as Purdue.

"It became quite clear to me, even before I was hired, that there were issues between the community and the University that needed discussion and an honest attentive resolution," Jischke said.

Jischke said there are a lot of concerns raised by the large student population living off campus such as the increase in rental property in West Lafayette and the transformation of houses into student apartments in traditionally single-family areas. Margerum said the recent rental inspection ordinance, which called for more frequent inspections on houses, was a step forward eliminating this overcrowding.

Jischke said the "overoccupancy" in student homes leads to certain specific concerns such as neighborhood untidiness and traffic hassles.

These issues are derived from the fact that roughly 60 percent of Purdue students live off-campus, said Jischke. However, he said Purdue has one the largest residence hall systems among American universities.

"We're trying to understand, very carefully, our impact in West Lafayette," he said. "I am committed to make West Lafayette an excellent place to live."

Both Jischke and Margerum qualified the study as a "continuing process" rather than an isolated one-time report. Toward this end, each will create a long-standing committee that will meet frequently, starting later this summer, to discuss problems and solutions derived from Purdue and the community's interaction.

Jischke said he will appoint a team that will be chaired by Thomas Robinson, vice president for student services, while Margerum will appoint a West Lafayette team led by Jan Mills, West Lafayette city council District 2 representative.

Robinson, who was co-chairman of the original Community Issues Study Committee, said the they met 10 times over a four-month period in which they addressed issues such as housing, neighborhood life and communication. He said the committees would probably start by meeting at least twice a month. Margerum added the new committees will have a good base of recommendations to begin their work.

Jischke announces building project

Committees to combine, discuss community issues

Jischke announces building project

IU 'gets away' with 7.5 percent increase

Camp Calcium offers teens education, awareness

CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 253

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org