By Tre Shuttlesworth, Staff Writer
A community forum brought together local leaders in civics and business from Susquehanna’s campus and the Selinsgrove area to have an open discussion about community relations on Oct. 9 in Degenstein Campus Center.
A variety of local figures were present for the event representing the campus, local politics and business including Susquehanna’s president Jonathan Green and executive vice president Mike Coyne. Selinsgrove mayor Jeff Reed and borough council president Marvin Rudnitsky were also in attendance.
Leaders from local businesses included valley developer Robert Grayston, Sara Maul of Selinsgrove Brewing Co. and Rotary President Carol Handlan. It seemed agreed upon by the forum that the current relationship is mutually beneficial with room for enhancement engagement between Susquehanna and Selinsgrove borough.
Handlan briefly summarized the general feelings between the borough and the university.
“I’ve seen many changes since President Green has come aboard and they’re all for the better…but we still have a lot communication of communication to do with one another.”
The Susquehanna community has a great story to tell, but many residents don’t know that.”
The opportunity was given for members of the community to pose questions to the panel. The community presented several in-depth questions from students, faculty and local business owners for varying perspectives. One topic addressed concerned the negative treatment of students of color experience in the local community.
It was a difficult subject to address for the panel due to lack of perspective, but ideas were proposed by the community to encourage acceptance of all individuals who face discrimination.
Some questions related to campus and community integration included the viability of off-campus housing in the future and methods of enhancing travel for alternative modes of transport such as bikes and skateboards through the Selinsgrove area.
Grayston saw the restriction of off-campus housing as helping the university encourage a safer experience for students.
The forum concluded with a question on how students can become more involved in the community. A quick response from Hanlan was to encourage students to volunteer. She also proposed the creation of a student organization committed to community involvement.
This forum is a part of the university’s National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant which aims to encourage civil discourse.
For students in the NEH-supported rhetoric and marketing in democracy course, this community forum acted as an enhancer in their course experience. As a project for the course, students are tasked with discussing topics and concerns with Selinsgrove citizens.
With these references, they are tasked with suggesting policies and methods to Susquehanna administration as to how relations can be improved between the campus and community.
Associate professor of political science Nick Clark was the moderator for the event.
“The forum is meant to provide information about how [Susquehanna] and the town work together and what new projects might be explored for future relations,” Clark said.
Clark saw the panel as an excellent opportunity for ideas for the students in the course. “Our hope for the students is to inform the projects that they will develop,” he said.