Teams begin discussing issues
regarding community, Purdue
By Ian Clift
Summer Reporter
There has been strife between the residents of
West Lafayette and students attending Purdue, brought on by the struggle
to maintain property values and combat overcrowding in the land close
to the University.
Two teams have been formed to represent the West
Lafayette community and Purdue University in an effort to resolve the
problems and foster better communication within the area.
The Purdue Community Issues Team met for the first
time Wednesday to discuss the recommendations made by the 18-member
joint task force that concluded its work in the spring.
"We certainly want to build on work that has already
been done," said Tom Robinson, vice president of student services "We
will continue to meet and discuss issues of common concern."
The reconstructed teams, which contain many of
the same members from the original team, met for the first time since
Purdue president Martin Jischke and West Lafayette Mayor Sonya Margerum
announced its formation.
Robinson chairs the Purdue team, while Jan Mills,
city council District 2 representative, heads the West Lafayette team.
The five key issues identified by the previous
committee were discussed during the organizational meeting, said Robinson.
Those key issues were communication, student involvement, pride of ownership,
active neighborhood associations and the use of technology to share
information between the city and University.
Purdue will provide information to the city about
enrollment numbers and campus expansion plans, and West Lafayette will
provide the University with information about road construction and
parks and recreation programs.
John Pomery, associate professor of economics and
committee member, said, "We've been looking for ways to build a stronger
relationship with the community." He believes his involvement in the
committee stems from his position as community service director at Purdue.
"We've been an ad hoc group trying to promote service learning."
Service learning is an experimental form of learning
that allows students to address community needs. "A lot of people will
claim that this is a much better way to learn," said Pomery.
He said the pervious task force was also partly
responsible for the Boiler Volunteer Network coming into being.
Sara Solloway, programs director for Purdue Student
Union Board, said the Network is to be a clearinghouse of volunteer
opportunities. "We connect students and staff to volunteer activities."
Pomery said the current committees' main motivations
are to promote a little more harmony in the community. "There is some
neighborhood overcrowding, issues of parking and traffic and issues
of good communication between the city and the University," he said.
"In some ways it's typical of large campuses in small communities."
Robinson said, "There are going to be a lot of
opportunities that we haven't had before. There is a very positive spirit
about all of this."
The two committees are starting their organizational
phase. A joint meeting with the West Lafayette Committee is expected
within the next month. "This is a new opportunity to work together and
address some of the issues that have come to light," Robinson said.
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