DePaul University students have certainly long benefited from having Chicago as their campus; students have the opportunity to participate in city life, find internships and job opportunities while still being able to complete their education at DePaul. However, it should not be assumed that DePaul and its attendees are universally liked by the city of Chicago.
That is not to say that DePaul doesn’t try to play its part. DePaul’s mission statement highlights the importance of service and giving back to the community. DePaul students are constantly out in the city, going to different neighborhoods and trying to make a difference.
For example, Residence Hall Chaplain Quang Luu recently lead the Freshman Welcome Retreat to the Chicago Food Depository and packed food to be sent out to food pantries around the city.
“The city is your campus,” read the Chicago Quarter mentor t-shirts. The Class of 2017 was certainly able to experience this firsthand during Immersion Week.
Undoubtedly, both DePaul and the city of Chicago gain some mutual benefit from each others’ relationship, but it should be remembered that Chicago does not unanimously love having DePaul.
Recently, the city announced it would begin building a 10,000-seat arena near McCormick Place. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and DePaul University will each provide $70 million of their own funds toward the construction, but the city is still expected to provide about $33 million in additional funding.
According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, “The multipurpose arena, which would be home to DePaul’s basketball teams, is opposed by neighbors who predict it will snarl the area in traffic.”
Many Chicago citizens are also against the new arena based on the fact that the city will be using so much of the taxpayers’ money for the construction project. In addition, the currently tax-paying property would ultimately become tax-exempt, thus eliminating much of the gain that the city would potentially receive.
There are many issues to study when figuring out how to make the relationship between schools and their cities more symbiotic. In 2012 Andrew Hibel from HigherEdJobs held an interview with Kim Griffo, the Executive Director of the International Town and Gown Association.
When asked about the issues facing the relationships between universities and their cities, Griffo stated, “The areas of focus are now including: how is gown working with town, so to speak, in the areas of economic development, sustainability and public health; how the educational institutions and the medical service units are working together both on and off campus in the coordination of efforts; and sharing of limited resources.”
These issues are ongoing, and it takes a combined effort from the city and school officials, as well as the citizens and students, to make the relationship work.
Relationships between schools and their cities are complex and require compromise. However, if done right, both sides can benefit.