WESTFIELD – Under the direction of Westfield State University English professor and city resident Vanessa Diana, a diverse group of WSU upper-level honors students from different disciplines presented their vision for the future of a revitalized downtown Westfield that welcomed students at a Mayor’s Symposium on Monday.
WSU English Professor Vanessa Diana and Westfield’s Acting Mayor Brian Sullivan at the student presentation of downtown Westfield.
The presentation was made to prominent business leaders and community members, including Acting Mayor Brian Sullivan, Westfield Bank CEO James Hagan, Westfield on Weekends President Bob Plasse, City Councilors Brian Hoose and Brent Bean, WSU Interim President Liz Preston, Executive Director of University Advancement Michael Knapik, Assistant Director of Advancement Lisa McMahon, Bo Sullivan and other members of the Westfield State Foundation, among others.
Diana said this was the group’s second visit to City Hall, after then Mayor Dan Knapik charged the students with this project earlier in the semester. Diana thanked the Westfield community that she said had embraced these students so warmly.
The students took turns presenting their portions of the project.
Biology major David Clark explained that the group was comprised of students of different backgrounds and majors, coming together for common goals. He said their first project was focused on certain aspects of the history of Westfield. Their second project was to meet with downtown business owners and local residents, noting that he met with John Bonavita, owner of the Tavern on the Green restaurant, who later treated the class to a lunch “which was amazing,” Clark said.
Clark said the third project was to envision a future that would mend the relationship between the university and the town.
Students Paul Falcone and Brian Aurelio showed a video they had made interviewing WSU students on three questions: Do you think Westfield is a college town? Do you feel welcomed in Westfield? What would you like to see in downtown Westfield?
The response from all the students interviewed was that Westfield is not a college town. As for feeling welcomed, responses included feeling shunned, town locals’ resistance to students, and not a lot for students to do.
On the third question of what they would like to see in downtown Westfield, responses included accessibility, more parking, smaller shops, coffee shops, a movie theater, more businesses geared to college students, and a bowling alley.
Falcone and Aurelio said the group used these responses as an inspiration to look toward the future.
Junior Jose Reyes listed priorities, including improving the town-gown relationship by forming a joint committee comprised of members from WSU and the community. Other ideas were locating a WSU building downtown, bringing attractions and entertainment to the city, and more transportation. Improving the relationship was “not possible without transportation,” Reyes said.
Students Becky Glennie and Connor Jackson looked at other universities that formed task force committees on town-gown relations. Glennie suggested recruiting students from different groups, faculty, administrators, off-campus business leaders and city officials for the committee “to give us long-term interaction,” she said. She added that there is an International Town Gown Association which charges a fee to join.
Glennie also emphasized that currently there are no activities for students, and no apparel sold. She said a WSU building downtown could include a gym, bike racks, a movie theatre and performing arts space, indoor paintball, laser tag, bowling alley, conference room space and living space. It would be “somewhere to go and hang out,” she said.
“We have the space; there are vacant buildings downtown,” Jackson added.
Miguel Maria looked at the example of Weaver State in Ogden, Utah. He said Weaver has a new 18,000 square foot building that is co-collaborative with the community, housing entrepreneurs and businesses.
He said the University of Massachusetts in Lowell built the Hawk’s Nest, bringing student dining downtown, that is also used by residents.
Christina Lankarge, a health and movement science major, talked about bike lanes that are needed on Western Avenue. She said many students bring bicycles to campus, and especially first year students who can’t have cars there. She said Western Avenue is not bike friendly and students feel unsafe and tend to ride on the sidewalks, which is illegal. She said there were two bicycle fatalities near the campus in 2012 and 2013.
She suggested investing in protected bike lanes on Western Avenue for safety and to promote health and physical activity.
Tyler Hastings said the current shuttle bus only runs from 6:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. weekdays, with no runs on weekends. He suggested extending hours during the week until 8 p.m., and considering weekend service. He also suggested considering Thursday, Friday and Saturday service after 8 p.m.
He said the first year students that can’t own cars on campus comprise one-quarter of the student body. The increased shuttle buses would allow all students the ability to get downtown, and lower the incidence of drunk driving. He also suggested that the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority update its communications and schedules.
A marketing team of five students then presented ideas on how to bring students downtown. They suggested working on encouraging students to go downtown, improving the image of the downtown to the campus, and improving the image of students to the downtown community.
One presenter said a short term goal would be to increase the presence of the University downtown, giving the example of downtown Amherst, where UMass banners are visible everywhere.
Another pointed to the comments of students on the video saying they do not feel welcomed downtown, and suggested a public relations campaign called “Who’s HOO?” that highlights the good students are doing on campus for their communities.
The students then thanked everyone for their time, and said the project informed them about the role they can play in the community. They also said the class decided to donate a part of their class grant to Westfield on Weekends and to the Westfield Museum.
The members of the audience thanked the students for engaging in the project.
“If it’s as simple as putting together a committee of students, residents and business people, I’d like to see that happen,” Acting Mayor Brian Sullivan said. “Westfield needs to be one community.”
Hagan and Hoose both volunteered to serve on the joint committee. Hagan also said Westfield Bank could be helpful with a donation for WSU banners downtown.
