There is always something in the air in Terre Haute this time of year. And it has nothing to do with the occasional odor that wafts in the late-summer breeze on the city’s southwest side.
It is during late August and early September that downtown traffic — both pedestrian and vehicular — picks up noticeably. The faces you see on the street are often fresh young faces, sometimes with quizzical looks as they try to figure out what’s what in their new, temporary home.
The fall semester is officially under way at Indiana State University adjacent to downtown Terre Haute. On the west side of the county, classes will begin Tuesday at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. At Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology east of the city, students will begin arriving later this week.
What these three institutions of higher learning have in common is that most of their new students this fall will come from places other than Terre Haute and Vigo County. In fact, they have arrived from all over the world.
It is no secret that the presence of these institutions has a profound impact on our community. Not only do they bring the annual infusion of hope and anticipation from the students who choose to pursue an educational degree here, they provide thousands of residents with employment, not to mention careers.
Each of our four-year undergraduate schools is different and offers unique educational opportunities to students. St. Mary-of-the-Woods is a women’s liberal arts college that is known for its outstanding equine studies program. Rose-Hulman is second to none in the area of undergraduate engineering degrees. ISU, as a larger state school, offers an array of course programs. One of its most popular is criminology.
While Terre Haute has never been a prototypical “college town” like Bloomington or West Lafayette, college life and community life do mix in many ways. The higher education community makes Terre Haute a better place by enhancing its culture in many ways.
There are those among us who think the “college influence” has too much impact on the city, and that the impact is not always positive. They think the colleges, especially ISU, run the town by sometimes acting like bullies to get what they want.
It is an absurd argument, of course. In ISU’s case, what is good for the university is almost always good for the community. Likewise Rose-Hulman and The Woods. All are linked with the community’s fortunes.
Terre Haute and Vigo County are more vibrant because of the colleges that reside here. They provide a greater quality of life that the rest of us should eagerly embrace.
We extend a warm welcome to students and faculty on their return to local campuses and wish them well during the new school year. We value what they bring to the community, and hope they find great value in their college experience here.
Editorials
Related Photos
Discussion
TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORAL: ‘College town’ comes to life
New semester reminds us of education’s impact
- Editorials
-
-
EDITORIAL: Saluting his sacrifice
If you need a new reason to reflect upon the historic meaning of Memorial Day, let the ultimate sacrifice that Arronn D. Fields made a week ago today be your inspiration.
-
EDITORIAL: Remembering Henryville
In the era of instant communication, the past seems to arrive much quicker.
-
EDITORIAL: Towering response
It comes as incredibly sad news that a Garfield Towers resident has succumbed as the result of a fire last week at the northside apartment complex.
-
EDITORIAL: Independent running mates
Almost certainly, running mates will not influence voters choosing Indiana’s next governor.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
• Cream of the crop
• Keep the ideas flowing
• Remembering fallen officers
-
EDITORIAL: Hazards of the spring abundant now on I-70
A major holiday weekend is approaching. The weather has been consistently inviting for travel and outdoor activity. Gas prices are even inching downward.
-
EDITORIAL: Embrace the Sycamores
Terre Haute should understand the rarity of an opportunity to celebrate a championship.
-
EDITORIAL: Good choice for stability
For the first time in 25 years, Indiana will have a new chief justice for its Supreme Court. For those who value stability on the state’s highest court — and we count ourselves among those who do — the appointment Tuesday of longtime Justice Brent Dickson is good news.
-
EDITORIAL: Correcting the prison imbalance
Terre Haute will no longer count federal prisoners when the city slices its population into six equal City Council districts. That decision by the City Council last week to remove the inmates at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex from the council district mathematical formula may not make waves, but it makes sense.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the News
• Sometimes bureaucracies do listen
• April hours bring May flowers
• Getting our airport off the ground
-
EDITORIAL: When it’s IU vs. UK, there’s got to be a way
If the annual Indiana-Kentucky basketball game was not significant, would the coaches of the two universities be talking like this?
-
EDITORIAL: Sen. Lugar’s compelling message
Richard Lugar, no stranger to reading political tea leaves, undoubtedly knew for weeks that defeat was coming Tuesday night in his primary fight for re-election against a more-conservative-than-thou opponent. A statement Lugar released just hours after his loss of titantic proportions indicates that the six-term incumbent saw the reality even before he knew Richard Mourdock was to be his opponent this May.
-
EDITORIAL: Reviewing the landscape
The compelling story line surrounding the race between Richard Lugar and Richard Mourdock dominated most of the local primary election chatter. With those stunning results now in the books and Mourdock heading toward a showdown with Democratic Party nominee Joe Donnelly of South Bend (the current U.S. House rep from the 2nd District), it’s time to survey the landscape for other general election races that will be worthy of attention.
-
EDITORIAL: GOP changed; Lugar didn’t
Six terms. Overwhelming popularity. A statesman and a gentleman. A visionary. An icon in the annals of U.S. Senate leadership, even world leadership. So dominating on the political landscape that the opposing party did not even produce a candidate in the last election.
-
EDITORIAL: An exercise in democracy
Primary elections rarely draw the same levels of participation as general elections.
-
EDITORIAL: Fight against child abuse demands ongoing attention
As with many of our nation’s most maddening and perplexing social problems, one hardly knows how to fathom the egregious wrongs that occur when a child is abused.
-
EDITORIAL: A ‘giant’ for his hometown
Home is where the heart is. That’s true for all of us. In addition, your heart can take you home.
-
EDITORIAL: Curbing corruption a worthwhile crusade
If you are cynical about government, down to its most local levels, you may think it is overrun — or even controlled — by corruption.
-
EDITORIAL: The politics of Primary 2012
In less than a week, voting Hoosiers get a chance to make a statement about the future of politics in their state and beyond. But whatever that statement turns out to be, the final punctuation marks won’t be added until November. It’s possible that nothing will be settled by the end of the night May 8.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
• Their footsteps can lead us
• It would be music to his ears
• Feeding a genuine need
-
EDITORIAL: Hoosier Republicans should stick with Richard Lugar
Until late 2008, most Hoosiers were quite pleased — and in many cases, darn right proud — to call Richard Lugar their senior U.S. senator.
-
EDITORIAL: Matt Branam: 1954-2012
The sudden death of 57-year-old Matt Branam on Friday morning continues to leave an air of sadness hanging over the community.
-
EDITORIAL: A transplant from St. Ann’s
It would be understandable, for most of us, if we were madder than the opposite of heaven if a beloved, historic, personal part of our lives was to be taken away against our will.
-
EDITORIAL: Pragmatic approach to downtown development benefits community
Terre Haute has known for some time now that Indiana State University’s master plan includes creation of student residential centers off-campus in the nearby downtown area.
-
TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: A salute to pride of ’55
Terre Haute gets the chance to witness and appreciate the extent of its rich baseball legacy this Saturday. Its past and present will merge at Bob Warn Field.
-
EDITORIAL: A match of Mitt and Mitch?
Not every Indiana governor’s endorsement of a presidential candidate has made instant national news as did Mitch Daniels’ support for Mitt Romney on Wednesday.
-
EDITORIAL: Drilling for fairness
Consistency and fairness were on trial Monday as the Vigo County commissioners grappled with a controversial rezoning request from a property owner who wants to drill for oil on his land near Hawthorn Park northeast of Terre Haute.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
Cheers, jeers and tears
-
EDITORIAL: Be fair, consistent, but keep smokefree ordinance on track
The steps toward a healthier, more vibrant community should continue moving forward.
-
EDITORIAL: Inspired by tradition, celebration
With the observance of Orthodox Easter on Sunday, the spring holy holidays for Christians and Jews will have passed for another year.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
EDITORIAL: Saluting his sacrifice
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Obama Honors Fallen Troops at Arlington Cemetery
Man in Crane at Texas College Says He's Armed
Raw Video: Deadly Explosion at Minn. Paper Mill
Romney Campaigns Ahead of Claiming Nomination
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Romney Promises World's Strongest Military
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Panetta: Asia the 'Project' for New Navy Grads
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
White House: No Military Intervention in Syria
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Obama Pays Tribute to Vietnam Veterans
Police Probe Similarities in 2 Disappearances
Los Angeles Bar Bans Bachelorettes
Hamster Plays Dead
Beyonce Shows Off 60 Pound Weight Loss at Concert
Drunk Women Breaking Into Houses: A New Trend?
LeAnn Rimes Rocks Short Shorts
Gordon Ramsay Carried Off Field
Man Dies Getting Lap Dance
Kim Kardashian Claims Items Stolen from Her Luggage
Bear cools off in Calif. family's pool
Ep. 3: Chopped Desserts
Air Force dad surprises family at baseball game
Justin Bieber Wanted for Questioning for L.A. Scuffle
J.Lo and Marc's Friendly Reunion
Jet makes emergency landing after debris falls off
Cynthia Nixon Ties the Knot
Woman, 80, Falls Out of Skydive Harness Mid-Jump
Keira Reveals Engagement Ring
