The Flame, October 25, 1991

              Valparaiso: community and college intrinsically linked; working for improvement in local quality of life
Pmmtd Stuamt Apathy Brtonfa ta BtcHtm:
VU voting turnout in local elections poor,
but potential local influence remains strong
By Philjp Pdempa
Torch Managing Editor
The dty d Valparaiso has a
Deputation d 24,000,4,000 of which
constotsdtheVUstudentbody. These
figures are making the VUdudent body
an increasingly toiportant portion dthe
Vafoaraisfo community especialy when an
election day approaches. Any VUstudent
who lives within the dty limits is
considered a part of the Valparaisio
community and therefore efgjbte to vde in
an etedton, providing trtfrw or she is
■entered to Porter County. However,
the deadine to register to vote in tha Nov.
3 elections for 1991 has dready passed.
Last year's vding covered county
elections. This year's vdtog affects cly
stectkm
Fred Kruger, VU professor emeritus
of mechanfcd engineering, is famiiar with
the UniversHy's rote in elections and local
government. Kruger has served as a cly
councl member-d-terge for the past 19
years and is running for reelection Nov. 3.
The Valparaiso Cfty Councl consists of
seven rnembers, five representing districts
andtwomembers-d-large. Valparaiso to
divided into 24 precincts, which are
divided into five districts. VUtospitby
two districts, with north and south d Union
Sired serving as the division line.
•Adudly, very tew VU students are
registered to vote. They seem to take an
attitude thd they donl know the candtoate
running, ao tha etectton doesn't affect
them,* said Kruger.
"Usudfy during a presidential
election year, there to a reasonable
degree of poiticd activity on campus.
Evan thoae atudenta who ware registered
to vote in Porter County tor tha lad
presktenttol etectton will find thd if they
havenl vded in d least two gerterd
stectton in tho pad three years, their
names are even purged from the
registration roil.*
Kruger said that the University and
the city effed each dher in several ways.
Spedficdty he mentioned ways thd the
University and the city of Valparaiso
supply services to one andher. For
example, he expteined thd VU students,
though mod are not originally trom this
area, pay gas, alcobd. cigarette and other
luxurytaxes. The dty benefits from this
directly, tinea I receives a, share of the
tdd taxes raised according to its
population. At the same time, the
University does nd have to pay property
taxes, yet it relies on both police and lire
protection, funded by communly property
taxaa.
Continued on page 4
Voluntcmsm eai Public Office;
Mutual interests of city and campus; altruistic goals
met through committee work and public service
By Philip Pdempa
Torch Managing Editor
VU and the city of Valparaiso
are constantly working together to
improve the quality of life in
Valparaiao. A primary means of
accomplishing established goals tor
the city and the Universly is through
committees.
The Town and Gown
Committee, consisting of five faculty
members and five students appointed
by VU president Alan Harre, and five
towni|wif>to appointed by Cftl Mayor
David Butterfield, serves as a forum to
discuss matters of mdud interest to
both parties. Since its credton seven
years ago, the committee has served
as a clearing house for the discussion
d issues, providing recommendations
tor improvement of problem situations
and maintaining an dmosphere of
goodwill between the campus and the
community.
One of the largest and most
recent projects undertaken by the
Town and Gown Committee last year
was Christmas in April. Over 485
student and community volunteers
combined efforts to renovde 14 area
houses, the Banta Senior Citizen
Center and Kkchoff Park. Ofthe485
volunteers, 120 ware skilled carpenters
and plumbers from Valparaiso who
agreed to lend their efforts.
Another example of teamwork is
the annual University and Community
Campaign. Established in 1969, the
campaign has raised thousands of
ddlars to donate to University
programs. Campaign members solicit
dondtons and pledges from todrvkJuals
and businesses in the area
Each year the committee sets a
god for the campaign, which it usually
surpassed. In la ltd year in 1969. the
campaign raised its god d $75,000.
Last year, the campaign raised
1420,000, bringing the total funds
raised over the 23-year period to over
$5 million.
The University, in turn, shows Hs
appreciation to the committee's efforts
by mounting a photo of the committee
chairperson in the Student Union. Thia
year's chairperson is Pder Candela,
the president dthe Valparaiso Indiana
FederalBank. The campaign is held
annually each spring from February to
Apr!
Besides committee work,
another means of accomplishing ,
mutual gods it through pubic service.
JohnStebert, the husband dVU
Irtramurab Director Rin Stebert, haa
served as the director of city parks and
recredton for six years. Stebert serves
on numerous dher local committees
induding the Affordable Housing Task
Force, tha Mainstreet Downtown
[fevdepment Committee and
subcommittees of tha Chamber ol
Commerce.
"Fraternities, rampus dubs and
other organizations frequently
volunteer their time to help with any
adrvities, induding cleaning up park
grounds, painting buidings and helping
with specid events," aaid Stebert.
Several VU faculty and staff
members dso serve in offices d
Valparaiso government which affect
relations between VU and Valparaiso:
Bruce Berner, associate dean of the
law school, serves at the presided of
the city park board; Dorthy Herscher.
executive secretary to the vice
president d academic affairs, serves
as the recorder for the city board d
toning apptata; Fred Kruger. professor
emeritus ol mechanted engineering,
haa bean a member of the city councl
for19yeare;andEncVvTgnal.
protestor oi communication, serves on
the city water board.