Downtown Kzoo and WMU – an unrealized relationship

For the last several years, leaders from Western Michigan University and Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. have worked together to foster a sense of solidarity between WMU and the surrounding area. I think there are still some serious hurdles that need to be overcome, including infrastructure, commercial entities catering specifically to students, and uniting WMU students with their neighbors in the Kalamazoo community.
I’d like to see some real action taken, as this concept is something that’s often talked about and promoted to appease the parties involved, but far too little is accomplished toward the goal.
As a native of Kalamazoo and student of WMU, I know that there’s a lot to do downtown, but does it really appeal directly to us students?
I think the single greatest obstacle to the relationship as it stands is simply the lack of an effective means of getting from here to there. The current bus system just isn’t an effective or efficient means of getting there, especially on weekends and at night.
Maybe a joint venture between the city and the university could produce a safe, effective, and aesthetic pedestrian means of transit. Right now, there is no direct sidewalk or trail that runs the entire distance from campus to downtown without having to traverse busy streets and train tracks.
I think a collaborative effort between students and administration is in order to bridge campus and Kalamazoo’s fantastic downtown. Both parties have a lot to bring to the table, and I think students sometimes forget that the university has as much to offer the Kalamazoo community as they offer to us.

Andrew Ladd
WMU junior

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=14724

Posted by heraldstaff on Feb 10 2010. Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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