The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
The cycle for a ‘College Town’
There is new energy on the campus of Indiana State University that we hope will carry over into the entire community.
ISU students, many of whom experienced college life and attended their first higher-education classes this week, converged en masse for residence hall move-in days last weekend. The campus always comes alive when students return after summer break. Along with them comes a boost throughout town of optimism and enthusiasm.
There is good reason for optimism this year at ISU. Expectations are high that total enrollment will see a dramatic rise. New-student numbers are also expected to increase. The freshman class should be at its largest level in a while, a development campus leaders have been pursuing aggressively since enrollment suffered a troubling decline a few years ago.
Spirit is high. And the university appears determined to sustain it.
The debate over Terre Haute’s status as a college town will undoubtedly rage on in some circles. Some elements of the community will never be comfortable identifying with any or all of our local institutions of higher learning or embracing all of what they offer.
Regardless, the quality of life in our city is greatly enhanced by the universities and colleges, and the people they bring here. A status as “college town” serves us well.
In service of democracy
Congratulations to Judy Buchholz, who on Tuesday was honored with the Making Democracy Work Award during the annual Women’s Equality Day Luncheon.
Buchholz earned the honor for her years of service as an outspoken leader of the League of Women Voters of Vigo County. While that organization is well known locally for its efforts to engage people in the democratic process through voter registration drives and candidate forums, Buchholz reminds us that there are people behind the organization who provide the leadership that produces valuable community service.
