One such topic covered was the “Tempe flight mentality,” a term used to describe students who choose to leave downtown Phoenix for ASU’s main campus in pursuit of the traditional college experience.
Nesima Aberra, a journalism and global studies junior, was able to lend first hand experience on the topic.
“I really wanted to stay downtown,” she said. “Living here really gave me a chance to know the Cronkite School better.”
Aberra lived downtown before moving to Tempe to help her pursue her education in global studies. She felt too restricted being around people seeking journalism degrees and missed out on being around students from a wide variety of majors.
“I didn’t feel like I was at one of the biggest college campuses in the country,” she said.
Sam Tongue, a journalism junior, agreed that living downtown does not bring a “traditional college experience” to those seeking it. However, he believes student leadership has become more visible in the time he has spent living downtown.
“Our focus should be retaining the students that are here,” he said.
Tongue added that school spirit is lacking compared to Tempe’s students because of the inability to participate in athletic events that students in Tempe have.
Aaron Kimberlin, assistant director of the Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory, suggested students bring Tempe to Phoenix.
Students have all the venues necessary to bring Tempe events downtown. He suggested hosting an ASU basketball game at the US Airways Center. Those partnerships should be created to bring some of the athletic spirit to downtown, he said.
Among other issues discussed were plans of ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law moving downtown and the addition of other majors to the Downtown campus.
Panelists also made suggestions on what majors would best be suited for the Downtown campus, including global studies and architecture.
The impact of businesses on the student experience was also part of the discussion.
Rudy Rivas, Downtown student government director of administration, was in the crowd and asked about what local businesses were doing to cater to students.
“How can students become more involved with a community so reliant on business if they’re closing at 5 p.m.?” he asked.
Panelist Kenny Barrett, Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation project manager and ASU alum, said it is a risk for businesses to have long hours, especially considering that many students leave the area during the summer.
Tongue said students need to engage with local business and experience new places rather than sticking with visiting the same places all the time.
“Businesses are very willing to engage with the student population,” Tongue said. He added that students must take the first steps to be engaged.
Nonprofit management freshmen Elisa Fankhauser attended to become more involved in the community.
“The community and campus are trying to work together,” Fankhauser said. “There is a lot that happens with the local community.”
Jill Johnson, program director for Barrett, the Honors College at the Downtown campus, said she was there to lend her support to students.
“This reinforces what I’ve known,” Johnson said. “We have a core of students that want to see progress and action at ASU downtown.”
Johnson wanted to hear from students to see what their interests were. She said her goal is to create programs and events that are engaging for Barrett students.
Contact the reporter at ruby.ramirez.1@asu.edu
