PROGRAM AGENDA IS RELEASED !
4th Annual Best Practices in Building University/City Relations Conference
Teaming Across Campus and Community
June 1-4th, 2009
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 The Newsstand is being sent to you as an introduction to the International Town & Gown Association. Members of the ITGA receive this twice-weekly publication and a monthly news letter highlighting college town news from around the world. Explore membership opportunities at www.town-gown.net to help keep these communication channels open to all. |
Request for Letters of Interest
To: All Interested Universities/Colleges and College Towns
From: The Best Practices in Building University/City Relations Conference Committee
The selection process for hosting the 2010 5th Annual Best Practices in Building University/City Relations Conference begins now!
The Best Practices Conference Committee is currently accepting Letters of Interest from University/City partnerships for hosting the 2010 Best Practices Conference. Interested partnerships should prepare an Official Letter of Interest. This letter must be from the combined prospective Host Team, college and community representatives, and include:
·The desired conference dates in 2010.
·Partnership with college and city including local convention and visitor's bureau, partnerships with any other local schools, and other governments.
·Potential corporate or other sponsorships.
·Conceptual make-up of the planned local conference planning committee.
·Demonstrated commitment by the local conference committee to organize and fundraise.
·Commitment to maintain Best Practices guidelines as well as a willingness to work in collaboration with the Best Practices Conference Committee.
·Why your community and town-gown relation is a GREAT place to host town & gown leaders from across the U.S. and Canada.
All Letters of Interest must be forwarded electronically to cboyles@town-gown.net by noon, May 29, 2009. You may e-mail Chip Boyles at cboyles@town-gown.net or call 864-643-4199 for conference guidelines and a detailed Request for Letters of Interest. | |
TOWN & GOWN LEADERSHIP
Two Part Series on Town/Gown Relations of UNH and Durham, NH
DURHAM, NH - Alexis Macarchuk writes Part I, The Problem, of a two part article for the student publication of The University of New Hampshire, The New Hampshire, on the town & gown relationship between the University of New Hampshire and its host community, Durham. The Princeton Review most recently ranked UNH as 6th on a list where "town-gown relations are strained." The ranking criteria used for the review assesses town-gown relations by asking responders, "Do students get along well with members of the local community? Macarchuk looks at the issues of tension between local home owners associations with students, real estate tax and zoning exemptions of the University, on-campus businesses competing with the town's business community, and a perceived lack of respect by students for the community. Durham's town administrator offers information that the relationship has improved since 2001, but may still have a long way to go.
New Haven and Yale Honor Town & Gown Leaders
New Haven, Conn. - According to a Yale University Public Affairs Announcement, Yale University President Richard C. Levin and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano honored 10 individuals with Yale University Seton Elm-Ivy Awards at a ceremony at Yale on April 28. The Elm-Ivy Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have enhanced the many partnerships between the university and its host city. Each year, a few of the outstanding efforts that sustain and nourish the "town-gown" relationship are recognized through these awards. Elm Awards are given to members of the New Haven community, and Ivy Awards are given to Yale faculty, staff and students. The awards are so named because New Haven is called the "Elm City," and Yale is a member of the Ivy League.
Mayor-elect Discusses Future for Evanston and Northwestern
EVANSTON, IL - The Daily Northwestern reports on a public meeting between Evanston's Mayor-elect and Northwestern University discussing plans for her tenure and town-gown relations. Though only 13 students attending, Discussions centered the mayoral campaign and the low student turnout in the local elections. Those in attendance said they hoped her inauguration would begin an era of improved relations between NU and the city. "I think everyone's looking forward to pressing the reset button on the Evanston-NU relationship," Weinberg freshman Ben Goldberg said. The Mayor-elect provided her views on the need for NU to begin to make direct financial contributions to the city in lieu of their property exemptions but receiving city services, and gave several examples of colleges and universities who make voluntary contributions to their host communities. Mayor-elect Tisdahl plans to NU's incoming President to suggest a task force to look into a formal town-gown relations model. Students and faculty suggested to the incoming Mayor that she should consider a student advisory group, maybe even an internship, to help the city with town & gown issues.
University of Chicago Introduces New Office of Civic Engagement
CHICAGO, IL - As described on the Hyde Park Progress web blog, the University of Chicago introduced the new position of Vice President of the Office of Civic Engagement and the new Vice President, Ann Marie Lipinski. According to a University press release, Lipinski will work to share the University's innovative models for civic engagement with peer institutions around the nation, and to learn from those universities' efforts. She also will develop the connection between the University's new international efforts and the city's emerging status as a global city. |
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PARKING & TRANSPORTATION
Cal State Long Beach Proposes to Continue Free Public Transit for Students by Eliminating
Off-campus Shuttles
LONG BEACH, CA - The Daily 49er, Cal State Long Beach News, reports that what began as a stopgap measure to ease last year's parking crunch on Cal State Long Beach's campus may become a permanent program for students. School officials are working with Long Beach Transit to enables students, staff and faculty members to ride the transit buses for free. In order to help pay for the program, the off-campus shuttle service will be discontinued after the current semester. In addition to funding, the off-campus shuttle service has been a source of controversy. Sharing stops has lead to conflict between the two services, with school-sponsored shuttles fighting city buses for limited space at busy stops. Some residents have complained about the shuttles, claiming that students park on neighborhood streets and then ride the shuttle to avoid paying for a parking permit. The student use of the public transit service began as a one-month program but was quickly expanded to a year after huge initial response. LB Transit had expected about 1,700 students boarding per day, but by the second week of the program, fare boxes were recording 3,700 students boarding daily. |
ALCOHOL & ENFORCEMENT POLICIES
College of William and Mary Continue Review of Alcohol Policy
WILLIAMSBURG, VA - The Flat Head News of the College of William and Mary reports on the announcement by the college's chief of staff and secretary to the Board of Visitors, that the College is undertaking a review and possible revision of the school's current alcohol policy. Though the details of what items of the policy will be reviewed and what the goals of the review will be, recent concerns have surfaced that restrictive alcohol policies on campus are moving parties off-campus and into the Williamsburg community. Another recent issue has been an effort by student assembly members to ask the college president to sign the Amethyst Initiative, an organization of college and university presidents and chancellors that calls for informed debate of the 21-year-old drinking age. Other policy issues, according to Brown, involve student health and safety. A student government representative states," I think the current alcohol policy is definitely forcing drinking inside or behind closed doors - sort of, you know, binge drinking and pre-gaming before going to an event," making this review a health and safety issue as well.
Over 50 Arrested From Out of Control Kent Party
KENT, OH - The Record-Courier reports on the off-campus " College Fest" party in Kent that turned into a riot with 53 arrests after party goers began pelting police officers with bottles and rocks at the scene. The aftermath of the incident included charred remains of furniture, empty cups and shattered glass strewn about in yards. The party was intended to be a "near-end of school year party to be held on a dead-end street in Kent where 19 or more licensed rooming houses operate.
Responding to the incident, Kent State University President Lester Lefton gave a statement to the Independent Student Newspaper of Kent State University, Kent News Net. President Lefton stressed that this unfortunate incident should not detract from the positive relationship between KSU and the Town of Kent and should be used as a learning experience for future progress.
After the incident and responses by the University, a Kent State University professor offers in his web blog,ToughSledding, a critique and suggestions of the University's actions and reactions to the event. | |
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Clemson, SC
The International Town & Gown Association is a non-profit organization that brings together leaders from college and university campuses and communities. Member representatives include Mayors, Elected Officials, City Administrators, Police Chiefs, Planners, University/College Presidents, Business Officers, Student Affairs Officers, Campus Planners, Student Housing Staff, Off-campus student staff, Parking & Transportation Officials, Students, Neighborhood Officials, Private Housing Developers, and many others sharing a unified town-gown vision. The ITGA acts as a communication, education, consulting and training resource for decision makers of colleges and college communities in areas of shared resources, programs, planning and project opportunities while addressing existing and potential conflicts.
Sincerely,
Chip Boyles
Executive Director |
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