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Show VSaA, ) f WESTMINSTERFORUM.NET Sugar House, a college town? A note from the editor Krista Smith Editor filled. I went to a recent soccer game where the stands were less than half full, although the Griffins had Its time to grow up or grow down depending on your perspective. Westminster College recently announced plans to purchase an office building across from Sugar House Park near 1300 East 2100 South. The building will be renovated into student housing and classrooms according to Annalisa Steggell, Director of Community Relations. I am ecstatic Westminster is finally welcome in Sugar House. Its about time Westminster grew into the neighborhood it has belonged to since 1875. And its about time Sugar House acknowledged the little school with church bells on 1300 East. Im amazed at how often locals have never heard of Westminster. And equally impressed by the complaints I hear about college students in Sugar House. For a liberal arts school, we are surprisingly quiet. Our art students rarely create controversy, Ive never witnessed a student protest and the thought of a brawl at any our games is funny given the stands are so rarely just broken a three game losing streak. Im glad the Griffins are so protective of their nest and The Nest is so proud of their Griffins, but outside the Behnken Field House and off Dumke Field students seem unlikely to create upheaval. I wonder how local businesses would fair in this recendy ranked Best College Town by msnbc.com without the college students renting, eating, drinking and playing in the city. True many businesses have worked hard to create partnerships with Westminster. From the 29 businesses on the Griffin Connection card to the printers for all Westminster paraphernalia, there are area businesses who have been Westminsters neighbors for years. ts work closely Many other institutions and with Westminster bringing the school lectures, workshops and art. On campus Westminster houses the Inclusion Center and UCCD. For 129 years, Westminster has given to the community. You get what you give. I know, this quote doesnt sound insightful. In fact, its a cliched song title going non-profi- back to the New Radicals international hit of 1999. This hardly groundbreaking statement rings true for me (and apparendy thousands of other people, given the songs platinum status). And after three years, Im starting to believe Westminster is giving enough as an institution to finally be welcomed into the neighborhood. I suppose it depends on what Westminster wants, and I for one want that quintessential college experience. I want to scream myself hoarse at home games, I want to go to the local college bar and drink a few with my classmates, I want to say, I go to Westminster and a instead of hearing Where? I hear, Great school. Maybe, thats what becoming part of the Sugar House neighborhood will mean for Westminster. So when I heard Westminsters plans to purchase Garfield Elementary School, plans to build at Woodbury and plans to renovate an empty Sugar House office building, I rejoiced because finally my school has decided to embrace the neighborhood I have come to love in the three years I lived here. And finally my neighborhood has come to embrace the school I moved here for. Welcome to the neighborhood, Westminster, f Students Speak Out What are you doing to protect yourself against H1N1? Krista Smith Editor I wash my hands like I have Im $ sanitizing pretty much everything. If the swine flue vaccine does come out, Ill get that and washing hands, too. OCD. Jessica Coats Lauren Johnson Philosophy Major Nursing Major I am washing my hands, getting good sleep and eating well. Im Im using hand sanitizer and planning on getting the vaccine. Is h Shannon Kennelly Environmental Studies Major Sarah Morrison Nursing Major l owtU i. ri I have a thing of sanitizer in my room, but I probably dont use it as often as I should. Im avoiding people who are sick and taking a vitamin I every once in awhile. David Atkins William Palm Communication Major Flight Operations Major 5 SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 I 1 t |