The International Town & Gown Association Newsletter November 2, 2017
Welcome to Dateline, a weekly newsletter highlighting college town news from around the world.
The 2018 ITGA City & University Relations Conference Update
Registration for the 2018 ITGA City & University Relations Conference, hosted by The Ohio State University and City of Columbus, is open! Click here to register. To see what your colleagues are saying about the longterm benefits of attending the annual conference, click here. Professional development opportunities are offered Tuesday, May 29, through Certificate Level I and Level II workshops. Peter Block is instructing Level II. Space is limited and you must have completed Level I to participate. To register for Level II, contact Susan Stafford. To submit an idea to present at the conference, click here. To learn more about the conference visit www.itga.org. We will see you in Columbus, May 29-June 1!
What Happened When the University of Maryland Embraced Public Transit
Exciting things are happening in university towns across the U.S. Many are changing from sleepy commercial strips to becoming major centers of innovation, entrepreneurship activity and wonderful walkable communities with a real sense of place. This leap to the future is happening right now at the University of Maryland in College Park. The change is everywhere, including a new a four-star hotel at the UMD main gate of campus, new student housing, all a comfortable walk to campus, new retail and job opportunities. This happened in part because Wallace Loh became the new University's president. Next City
University of Minnesota Students List Troublesome Landlords
A list of landlords who violate housing policies will soon be available to students at the University of Minnesota. The university's student association plans to launch a landlord accountability campaign in November to inform students of housing issues and increase awareness of troublesome landlords, Minnesota Daily reported. The student association is working with Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minneapolis to make legislative changes. Omar's drafted legislation addresses three issues: short-end leases, limiting mandatory arbitration clauses and requiring leases to be unit-specific. San Francisco Chronicle
Saint Mary's Official Farley Wins National Governmental Relations Award
Tim Farley, director of government and community relations at Saint Mary's College and a member of the Contra Costa Community College District, has received the national 2017 Edwin Crawford Award for Innovation from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Farley, a Martinez resident, is being honored for his advocacy work and leadership in elevating Saint Mary's College's profile among California legislators and their staffs. The advocacy work includes speaking with Saint Mary's students about the importance of promoting Cal Grants to state elected officials. East Bay Times
University of Sussex Students and Staff Spruce Up Brighton Street
A team of students, staff, council workers, residents and volunteers spent this afternoon sweeping, clearing and tidying at St Martin's Place. Adam Tickell, the University's Vice-Chancellor, was one of the volunteers. He said:"It was great to take some time out today to help make the street an even nicer place to live. Good community living is all about recognising the many roles we can all play in being great neighbours and making this city such a lovely place to live." The University has expanded its community engagement work over the past two years and has made regular street cleans a key part of this activity. University of Sussex
GSS Items of Interest: Alcohol & Drug Free Task Force, On-Campus Free Speech and Taboo-Free College Campus Initiative
The Graduate Student Senate had many issues to discuss at a recent meeting. Task Force: The goal is to understand the substance use patterns of the University's students as well as raise awareness of the counseling and addition services on campus. Free Speech vs safety: Councilman Daniel Gordon commented on two visits by Neo-Nazi groups in the past year that raised issues regarding the difference between free speech and violence-inciting threatening speech that is not protected by the First Amendment. Tobacco Free College Campus: GSS's current stance is that the change is not in the best interest of students. BG Falcon
Join us on Social Media
A growing and impressive group of professionals from campus communities continue to network and share strategies for improving town-gown relations. Join us on Twitter and LinkedIn. The conference hashtag is #ITGA18.
ITGA News and Announcements
Welcome New and Renewing Members
Morehead State University
University of Vermont
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