Not The College Park I Knew

umcp11
Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:14:08 +0000

“many of them are urban universities just like UMCP”

Urban = hip and funky.

DC and Baltimore = hip and funky.

College Park is…neither. Despite its proximity to DC and a bunch of young, cool kids (lol) hanging around, it has not experienced the revitalization that areas like Takoma Park and Silver Spring have.

And ok, maybe hip and funky was like, wrong word choice, because I’m not saying there should be classical music halls around (not exactly what I associate with hip and funky, but ok). I’m talking like, chill coffee shops, chill independent businesses, music venues like the 9:30 club or Ottobar, not like the BSO. Haha. Most students in College Park would enjoy these things, it’s just a matter of making sure they are run well and appeal (cheap drinks perhaps? up-and-coming bands?).

(As an aside, Ithaca is ok for a small town but it’s pretty crappy lol. Not exactly what I was thinking.)

Chapel Hill and Anne Arbor and Austin and Charlottesville and towns surrounding many other flagships are >>>> College Park. Flagship state unis are often assoicated with thriving towns, in fact.

I don’t think the university can necessarily DIRECTLY do anything but I think it’s an issue students can and should be concerned about. I do believe that improving the town will improve the prestige of the university, and I think there is a way for it to be done…I am not the roll over and die type ;).