University, students must take stand on E.L. projects
We all know East Lansing is looking to throw students into housing farther away from campus — it is no secret. With the continuation of plans for the East Village project and the proposed City Center II project, we have begun to hear more and more grumbling from students and a handful of East Lansing residents. However, the university has been silent.
It is more than past time that student groups on campus begin to do more than just talk about their displeasure regarding these new developments and take a more active role in fighting alongside property owners against the destruction of cheap student housing (I use the term “cheap” loosely). Being a current resident of Waters Edge Apartments, I can tell you the place is no paradise. However, it is a place near campus where students can live at a relatively reasonable price and walk to classes — no need to go into the environmental impact of the extra vehicles that would be required if we all lived farther away. East Village would replace the apartments with more retail space and fewer apartments, no doubt at a higher-priced rent.
Alongside student groups should be the voices of President Lou Anna K. Simon and MSU Board of Trustees members. By not publicly denouncing the destruction of student housing in East Lansing — the city MSU built — MSU’s powers that be are just as guilty as the East Lansing City Council. I implore the students, faculty and administrators at MSU to stop mumbling and do something. What is at risk is not just students’ living conditions but the very character of our university. Write letters, hold forums and let the City Council, local businesses, university administrators and everyone else know East Village and City Center II — as planned — are not what’s best for MSU. And what is not good for MSU is not good for East Lansing. Go Green.
Brian Doyle
international relations junior
Published on Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Comments
Sparty
02/28/08 @ 8:45am
Go White!
Em Ketterer
02/28/08 @ 2:35pm
YAY! Word to this!
And, Brian, the coops ARE doing something. We have addressed the Board of Directors and they are aware of our concern, specifically, the destruction of affordable student housing.
Join us in our fight!
Boycott
02/28/08 @ 5:02pm
I know this comes up every few years when student rights are at risk, and it never takes hold, but maybe it is time for a boycott of city businesses. While I don’t think businesses should be held accountable for the actions of a few, they do have an enormous pull within the city. Why not organize a week long boycott of businesses in East Lansing to show the economic impact of the student population. Hold the East Lansing City Council responsible for the boycott and make the point that without students spending money in the downtown, there will be no downtown.
Hopefully this would get even more businesses on the side of the students, and show the City that students are not just cash cows to be taken advantage of and pushed around.
Where is the student government in all of this? Probably debating issues that really don’t matter, but this would be a great time for them to come forward and show they can do something. Get every student government member to show up to City Council, Planning Commission, and any other meeting dealing with East Village or City Center II. With the 5 minute speaking rule per attendee, there could be a very effective filibuster of East Lansing government until they quit pushing students out of East Lansing.
Patrick
02/28/08 @ 9:08pm
Student government members at city meetings? Yeah, I did that, maybe two or three nights a week. I think the results were worth it. If you aren’t there yet, go. Don’t appoint a representative, lead yourself.
One tactic is to present the facts. Include the forgotten history, which clever marketing hopes to hide.
The proposed City Center II may remove a “bad” building and add an “exciting new” theatre or auditorium. Gosh. The mid-1980’s saw a major remodeling of that same block. That time, they removed a “bad” building and also cleared an “obsolete” theatre from the site. Each time they build higher, spend more, and abandon the site sooner.
The East Village redevelopment is another piece of spam. Look up their floodplain discussion, especially the part where they discuss clearing trees from Sanford Natural Area to compensate for their proposed damage to the north bank. Look up the old issues of the State News from around April 19, 1975 … I was there … and see where the real floodplain lies. Hint, the Red Cedar did not stay inside those neat lines they have drawn on the design map. The Bogue Street and Farm Lane bridges stopped flood-borne logs and turned into dams. And look up the MSU histories. During the really big flood, at the Farm Lane bridge, the Red Cedar was one mile wide.
The city seems to have convinced FEMA that their river is gentle, is disciplined, will behave according to plan. Wrong. If you really want to fight this development, start by reversing those lies that made it possible.
Two More Suggestions
02/29/08 @ 12:19pm
If the students want change, they have to get the University to act and get Chandler to quit playing mayor. The key issue is housing, so . . .
To get the University involved, try to get every student to apply for University housing (dorms). Filling out the application doesn’t commit you to anything, but 49,000 applications would force the U to address the housing situation.
Please stop signing leases with the Chandlers and DTN a year in advance. This is in your best interest anyway – the deals get better and the rents get lower the closer we get to the begining of the school year (don’t take my word for it, save some newspaper ads and see for yourself – it happens every year). Besides, none of these monster apartment buildings are full (yes, they lie to you).
If the students can get organized and act they won’t need to beg other groups to do things for them. Spartans are 49,000 strong – you have the numbers to run EL if you want.
Matt
02/29/08 @ 1:03pm
Who cares if they get rid of places like Cedar Village? Not only is it a dump, we are going to be gone in less than four years. Stop whining and acting like every student opposes development.