Walter Cronkite School Dean Christopher Callahan hosted an open forum for students to discuss changes on the Downtown campus and surrounding community Monday night.
Recently named vice provost of the Downtown campus, Callahan said he wanted to talk directly to students about what is and what is not working on campus as it has developed over the past five years.
Callahan said the university has not done a good job of informing students about how to take advantage of the benefits of living downtown. There are places that are in walking distance of the university, including art galleries, affordable restaurants and a growing independent music scene that students are unaware of, he said.
The Downtown campus is taking steps to better inform students of events on campus by developing a mobile application consisting of a comprehensive events list, links to clubs and organizations and deals at local businesses, Callahan said.
Thomas Wheeler, an elementary education graduate student, said he attended the forum to become more informed about new developments downtown.
“There are other things going on that I am interested in learning and finding out what he knows,” Wheeler said.
One of the new developments Callahan discussed was the future five-story Downtown Student Recreation Center, a $20 million project to be completed by May 2013 that will include additional athletic facilities and a rooftop pool for students.
During the forum, students’ main concern was feeling disconnected and segregated from the Tempe campus; however, Callahan emphasized the importance of students establishing a connection with their academic programs as freshmen.
“It’s a choice. If it’s more important to be on a more traditional college campus then you should do that, but you have to weigh that out,” Callahan said. “If you’re going to be a Cronkite major, you need to live where your major is.”
Michael Bartelt, a freshman journalism student, expressed interest in bringing a fraternity and sorority to the Downtown campus in order to develop camaraderie between students.
“I think it’d be a killer, revolutionary, pioneering idea that you don’t see at an urban campus,” Bartelt said.
After discussing his ideas with Callahan, Bartelt said he gained a better idea of the steps he needs to take to successfully bring Greek life downtown.
“I have no complaints,” Bartelt said. “(Callahan) shows a great amount of concern for the downtown community, and I couldn’t ask for a better dean.”
Contact the reporter at lily.zimmel@asu.edu
