Letters to the Editor

Open arms to DePauwSometimes the timing is just right. I have lived in Greencastle for over 30 years and my three children are now DePauw graduates. We've been invested in both DePauw and Greencastle, but today I have a renewed sense of optimism about where we are headed as a community and where we have opportunities to create a welcoming and supportive environment for our citizens, young and old, to learn and grow and live.

Greencastle and DePauw have shared space for over 170 years, but we have a unique opportunity today to create a new sense of community. President Casey and I are working to foster that, to create new dialogs and partnerships, and we are starting to see the fruits of that labor. Students can now use their Tiger card dollars at downtown restaurants. We have joined forces in efforts to make our environment more sustainable. DePauw students can be seen coaching youth soccer, volunteering to help our most vulnerable citizens and shopping at the farmer's market on Saturday mornings. It's a beginning.

On behalf of the city of Greencastle, I want to welcome the class of 2013. I hope you will take the opportunity to get to know and become involved in Greencastle. To returning students, faculty and staff, I invite you to start, or in many cases, continue your engagement. Let us know how we can make the campus and community a better place for all of us. Call me at city hall at 653-3100 or e-mail me at smurray@cityofgreencastle.com. You can learn more about Greencastle at our Web site: www.cityofgreencastle.com.


Sue Murray

Mayor of Greencastle





Satire seen as distasteful


The following letter appears in response to The DePauw's 19th Annual Freshman Survival Guide, which appeared in the Aug. 22 issue.

As a native of Putnam County who spent many years away from here, I am able to see the unique attributes DePauw and the surrounding community have that many other areas of this country do not possess. Unfortunately, your satire in the previous issue of The DePauw decided to show your ignorance with regard to this community. It is not humorous. All this section does is highlight the false perception that many of the students at DePauw hold with regard to Putnam County and its residents. You are only adding to the current wedge between the University and the surrounding community due to the fact that students will read this and immediately apply it to their ignorant disdain of the local residents. President Casey has been diligently working to improve town-gown relations. Please refer to page 8 of your previous issue of The DePauw, and you will notice we are ranked No. 9 in the nation for strained town-gown relations. Thank you for helping to drive this ranking higher. Again on page 11, President Casey emphasizes the need to improve community communications.

But most striking is your own editorial. As you say towards the end, "Our leaders (administration) can talk about community intervention semester after semester, but in the end, the duty falls on students' shoulders." With your section, you completely undermined and negated the message you were trying to convey in the editorial.

I understand many students think the residents of Putnam County are poor and uneducated, but we have a higher rate of degree holding residents than the majority of Indiana. Many of us have made the very selective choice to live here because of the slower pace and simpler lifestyle. Yes, the majority of cultural experiences are a good drive away, but that doesn't mean we residents are not cultured. Step out into this community and meet its residents, and you will quickly learn what a diverse group you are surrounded by.

Please open your eyes and mind before you graduate; it will only enrich your education and life.



Heidi Menzel

Coordinator of library and information services