Administrators Seek Transformations in College's Civic Engagement For

Administrators seek transformations in C o lle g e ’s civic engagement for developing downtown dorm By Caroline Ferguson Burrell-McRae explained that Co-Editor-in-Cheif the administration wants to help a shift in the Colby mindset as it As further developments con applies to civic engagement. She tinue to be made in the construc stressed the reciprocal nature of tion of Colby’s downtown dorm, engagement in this context giv blueprints and renderings of en that the downtown building the residence hall and floor lay first and foremost represents, outs are expected to be released and therefore must operate as, soon. Yet much of the focus for a partnership between com Colby Administration is direct munities. “It’s about being able ed towards aspects for which to have us learn from commu there can be no blueprints; in nity members, and community determining the specific impact members learn from us,” said such a move will have on both Burrell-McRae. “Often when we the relationship between, as well think about issues of civic en as the individual communities, gagement, or some people talk of Colby and Waterville. about community service, the In an interview with The Colby talk tends to be more one-sid- Echo, Vice President of Planning ed[...] I think there is so much Brian Clark emphasized the im we can learn from the com m u portance of continuing ongoing nity but we currently are not set dialogue as the construction up to have that kina o f recipro of the downtown building pro- cal relationship.” resses, specifically about what In attempt to drive the philos aving a greater Colby pres ophy of a more intentional part ence on Main Street truly entails nership between the Colby and and the prevailing concerns as Waterville communities, Clark sociated with its installment. disclosed ideas for structuring “I think the downtown stuff is the civic engagement around one vehicle for these concerns,” the academic and mixed-used Clark explained. “But I think components offered within the i the concerns are actually much building. Clark mentioned ideas broader and much deeper-root like introducing a new research ed in the relationship between or fellowship program or having Colby and Waterville. teaching spaces in the building Dean of the College Karlene which could support curricular Burrell-McRae ’94 also acknowl pieces. “One of the leading ideas Courtesy of Colby Communications edged that Clarks concerns are com ing out of the community is A rendering of the downtown dorm that will contain student and faculty apartments on the upper floors, as well as common spaces, and embedded within the Colby-Wa-. [...] to have a mu^i^more inten retail areas on the first floor. The initial rendering of the dorm shows a modern design utilizing lots of glass, which will stand in contrast to the terville relationship. “I think the tional program that is supported old, brick buildings currently on Main street. Waterville community has a sense and has support for faculty and of who they think we are, as Col fellows to really run through the by: were rich, were white, were residence itself,” Clark told the privileged,” Burrell-McRae told the Echo. “That could take different Provost andDean of Faculty steps down Echo. ‘4But] I think there is some shapes over different years de thing different about having all of pending on who is in there and Also in the email, Kletzer de The office was expanded under her our community here [on campus] what their interests are.” tailed her reasons for stepping leadership, allowing the provost po and engaging with Waterville, ver Additionally, Clark explained down. “Focusing on my research sition to engage in larger-scale re sus being able to have some of our that groups within the Water and writing now will enable me to forms. The emergence of the writers community downtown.” ville community will have op contribute, at this important time, center and the center for teaching To unify the culture of both portunities to utilize and engage to public discussions about global and learning are prime examples of communities, both Burrell- within the building as well, spe ization, jobs and earnings, higher her accomplishments,” he saia. McRae and Clark believe the cifically through a large gather education and income inequality, Kletzers departure has placed solution is through the oppor ing space to be used for com and the role of liberal arts educa pressure on the Presidents office to tunity for intentional and ongo munity forum. “The thing we tion in developing future leaders find a replacement in time for the ing partnership the downtown heard, almost the most, [from with broad perspectives and intel 2017-18 academic year. dorm offers. “The civic engage the community] is that there is lectual depth,” she wrote. In a campus-wide email, Greene ment piece is going to be the no great place for community or President David A. Greene ex wrote that he is partial to choos biggest bridge we can have in nonprofit groups to meet or to pressed his support for Kletzer in ing her replacement from the wide this building,” Clark said. He have an event downtown,” Clark a campus-wide email later that day range of talented deans and faculty r explained that it was important said. “So the community forum praising her commitment to im currently at the College. However, “because those relationships are is designed to meet that need, Courtesy of Colby Communications proving various academic programs that internal selection process does going to be the ones that start to and to really welcome those at the College. not work out, Greene also stated in integrate and make this mixed- groups into the space.” By Jonathan S tempel “She is a person of great integ his email that he would be willing to used development with students Clark also disclosed inten Asst. News Editor rity and intellect* and has accepted expand the search to someone out living there really a part of that tions to host city council meet the toughest challenges with grace, side of Mayflower Hill “should we community,” Clark said. “It’s ings in the community forum Provost and Dean of Faculty equanimity, and admirable per not be able to identify an excellent more about what happens inside as well, offering the city a very Lori Kletzer announced in a cam sistence. She is driven by her con internal candidate who is eager to the building, and less about the public and visible space for pus-wide email recently that she viction that the liberal arts is a take on the challenges of the role.” building itself.” transactions and voices to be intended to step down following powerful, transformative model of Greene ended the email by saying In the long run, Colby adm in heard. “So it’s not just Colby the conclusion of the 2017 aca education that should be available that he encourages eligible faculty istrators hope that the focus of and Colby civic engagement on demic year. to students from all backgrounds.” members who are considering ap civic engagement in the resi Main Street,” Clark explained. Kletzer has been a member of Greene credited Kletzer for plying for the position to reach out dence hall will prom ote and fos “It becomes an intersection of the administration for the past sev “strengthening partnerships with to him personally. ter certain behaviors and norms the community and the civic en years where she has worked to external organizations [like] Big In a email to the Echo, Kletzer that shift the current perception life in Waterville with Colby, all strengthen the tenure process and elow Laboratory for Ocean Scienc commented on her time at the Col of community outreach within com ing together in this space.” draw talented faculty to Colby. es, The Jackson Laboratory, Maine lege “Colby is a special place, with Colby culture. “We are actu Through incorporating civic In a campus-wide email, Kletzer Lakes Resource Center, and the Up- amazing students, talented and ded ally rethinking what civic and engagement into the different highlighted the improvements that East Foundation and Allen Island.” icated faculty and staff. I am excited community engagement should have been made at Colby during her Joe Reisert, the Harriet S. Wiswell by this opportunity to return to my look like at Colby overall,” Burrell- time here. “The faculty role in gov and George C. Wiswell Jr. Associ research and writing and to find McRae said. “Its not just about ernance is stronger, and support for ate Professor of American Consti other avenues to make a difference downtown. The residence hall See, COMMUNITY, Page 2 faculty development, research, and tutional Law said that, “Kletzer has and address important challenges. downtown is just a part of the over scholarship, and student-faculty re played an active role in campus cur I will take with me many close and all aspect of civic engagement.” search has grown and expanded.” ricular and programmatic planning. special relationships.” Featured Article: Softball snaps four game losing streak p. 11 Waterville, M aine ___________ thecolbyecho.com | Page 2 C olby’s Engagement Downtown Policy changes for vocalized concerns about the ing the Colby into Waterville, downtown dorm installment, the overwhelming majority of specifically that a greater C ol respondents stated them to be From, COMMUNITY, Page 1 by presence may actually cause transportation concerns and NESCAC schools damage to the already strained isolation from the College(over Colby-Waterville relationship. 43% and 38%, respectively). By Emily price gender identity of one of their multi-purpose aspects of the In an anonymous student-wide “I want to hope for good Staff Writer students, nor will they need to building, Clark hopes that it survey recently conducted by things,” one student wrote in ask for each student’s gender pro will not only foster the mind The Colby Echo, a little over 27% the comment section of the This week in the NESCAC noun preference in front of the set of community partnership of respondents affirmed that survey.

Load more