Carbondale Solutions

Following up from yesterday's post, here is a list of proposed solutions advanced at last January's meeting, attended by, among others, SIUC's Chancellor and his wife, the head of SIUC's faculty association as well as local elected officials, city officials, doctors, lawyers, advertising executives, bankers, realtors, landlords, teachers, neighborhood and union activists:

·         Reassert that which is special about SIUC

o   have special programs [earth systems/sustainability/global values/communicators/diversity]

o   e-energize the renowned Rehab Institute and the John Dewey Center and elevate Buckminster Fuller’s legacy

o   revitalize campus life

o   adopt a common reader program at university (integrate with community issues?) – a  key book assigned to all incoming students for discussion and thought

·         Advertising and media

o   Focus on stories, unique programs (weekly column in the Southern on SIUC good news)

·         Recruit international students

·         Work on issues of structural racism which may discourage minorities, international students

·         Create permanent body to facilitate town/gown relations

·         Make the community welcoming to all – international, minorities, students

o   Home stay/adopt a student

o   Invite international students “home for the holidays”

o   International friends groups

o   Educate police about cultural difference of international students

o   Build a campaign of residents greeting students they encounter

o   Religious institution outreach

o   Assimilate students into the community (and not just for foreign students)

o   Create website/portal with employment/volunteer opportunities in the community for students – a place that students can post skills and residents can find workers to do yard work, house cleaning, etc. as well as volunteers for community groups. (“Help wanted” “Help offered”)

o   Create greater interaction between city officers, institutions and students

o   Seek fewer arrests, create more work/service opportunities for student arrests instead of monetary fines

·         Recognize that Carbondale is first and foremost a university town

·         Promote cooperation between university and town following the model of eclipse week

·         Community response to media to counter negative media reports

·         Market SIU as equivalent to U of I (not Eastern or Western)

·         Build on change already happening in elementary schools (new superintendent)

o   Publicize great students and achievement in K-12 schools

o   Build on ties (Spanish immersion program) between K-12 schools and SIUC

o   Community volunteerism in K12 schools

o   Bring local/regional students to campus early and often

o   Create collaboration between SIUC and CES 95 to address achievement gap between more affluent and poorer children

·         Use community to fill seats at university events – offer free tickets when stadium not full

·         Establish artists program (model of Providence RI, Paducah, Ky)

·         Enhance community attractiveness to students and residents with shared facilities that encourage interaction

o   Dog park

o   Skate Park