COLUMNIST: Building an urban university

Ian Rosenblum, Guest Columnist It was about 9:45, and the DP was pretty quiet for a Monday night. Too quiet. "There's been a shooting," someone said behind me. "Forty-second and Pine." And so it began. By the time the night was over, we'd learned that a College senior had been shot and wounded during an attempted carjacking a few blocks from campus. I spent the next few days working on the follow-up stories and reporting on the statistical decrease in crime around campus. Throughout this period, I listened carefully to what people on the Walk, in class, and across campus were saying about crime. The suggestions and comments I heard astounded me. Students said the University should buy more land in West Philadelphia, further increase police protection and even build a wall around campus. According to their explanations, these actions would improve the University community. But what I don't think many students understand is that the "University community" is not just the area between 34th and 40th and Spruce and Walnut streets. Instead, we as individual students and the University as a whole must look beyond College Green and My Favorite Muffin and into the real community that surrounds us and that we are a part of -- West Philadelphia. I picked up this phrase on the first day of my Urban Studies class. At first I couldn't understand it. After all, here we are in the middle of West Philadelphia. Aren't we an urban school? But in a few weeks, after some more sessions of class and talks with my friends, I began to grasp the concept. To be an urban university, Penn has to commit itself to solving the very real problems that plague West Philadelphia. This requires substantial change on the part of students and the University. I firmly believe that we as students need to be active participants in the community. Opportunities abound, and we need to grab onto them. But the University has an even more important role in making Penn into a leading urban institution. The University of Pennsylvania is extremely rich -- both financially and academically. When Penn administrators are faced with retail and expansion decisions, they need to think not only of Penn students, but of the Penn community. Take, for example, the decision to build Sansom Common. This multi-million dollar facility will create a retail hub on campus. Instead of creating walls, the University must invest in local businesses west of 40th Street -- giving students even more reason to venture westward and helping the community help itself economically. Professors should also be encouraged to make ties in our community. Virtually any class from any discipline can take advantage of the community and its resources to further students' learning. In addition, the University ought to urge professors to move to West Philadelphia -- and offer real financial incentives to back up the words. When you read about crime in the DP, remember that there's a community beneath the headlines. We have the opportunity to take part in bettering that community -- but only if we act.