I'm sick of people hating on Arizona. It's like everywhere I go there are these faux-hipsters always reminiscing about the city life of their precious East Coast, the soothing days at their Pacific beaches or the exquisite dining at their chic European getaways.
I'm sick of people hating on ASU too. Outsiders (and even some local haters) are always snickering at ASU, saying it "lacks culture" or that it is "just a party school."
Yes, I know it's absurdly hot here in the summer. And I also know that at ASU we have traditionally been ranked highly - not among US News's best colleges report, but instead among Playboy's best party schools. But if you take a look around, you'll notice there are lots of exciting new developments going on around the city and around ASU that will soon change these unwarranted impressions.
The singular most important project that neatly explains all the ways in which ASU and the surrounding city play a critical part to each other's mutual growth and success is the Valley Metro Light Rail.
The connections between ASU and the light rail project are widespread. ASU has been active on light rail since its inception. Two years ago, the city of Phoenix asked industrial design professor Patricia Moore and her team of students in the School of Design to create a vehicle concept for the actual train system. In addition, professors and students at the School of Architecture have worked on a research project to develop materials and shading techniques to cool passenger-waiting areas and be energy-efficient.
And more recently, students at the W.P. Carey School of Business are working with the city of Phoenix to assist small businesses that will be economically impacted by the advent of light rail.
With the construction and expansion of light rail, ASU will also grow and expand. Last week, President Michael Crow held a meeting with faculty and staff to discuss the future expansion of ASU campuses. Part of this expansion involves developing a unique and enlarged urban campus at the center of the city. ASU Capital Center campus in downtown Phoenixwill include the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as a new Public College focusing on public policy and social work.
This new campus will be a key part in turning downtown into a more vibrant hub of activity. Friday's Arizona Republic quoted Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon as saying, "Every notable city throughout history has been defined by a vibrant downtown ... [this campus] brings Phoenix one step closer to realizing our goal and vision of joining the ranks of those great global cities that bristle with life and activity."
Valley Metro Light Rail will be an important factor in connecting the campuses, as it will include a stop at ASU Main as well as a stop at the downtown location. Students will be able to take a short, 10-minute ride from Mill Avenue to downtown Phoenix, free of annoying city traffic.
Michael Crow's vision for a "new American university" was based on a primary tenet of creating a public metropolitan research university by leading academic entrepreneurship, embracing social surroundings and creating societal transformation through use-inspired research. ASU's strong participation in the light-rail project fulfills all of these missions and ensures a bright future in the community.
The Valley Metro Light Rail will revolutionize the way people travel in Phoenix. Even President Bush gave light rail his thumbs up this February by approving a recommendation for full federal funding for the project, for an amount of $75 million in the new fiscal budget. Indeed, the success of this venture is very important for both ASU and the city alike.
The Valley of the Sun is no cow town anymore, but one of the largest and fastest growing metropolises in the country. With the development of the Phoenix downtown area and light rail soon to be zooming through four cities, it is poised to become one of the greatest urban areas in the nation. And as the heart of the city beats faster, ASU is energizing its veins.
Ishtiaque Masud is an economics senior. Reach him at ishtiaque.masud@asu.edu.
