Ball State University professors want to change Muncie by making it more sustainable. They said it would be a change for the better because it would increase the quality of life for Muncie residents.
Scott Truex, professor of urban planning in the College of Architecture and Planning, said Indiana had to create a good quality of living because Indiana didn't have too much to attract people to the state.
"We are not blessed with mountains or oceans," Truex said. "We need to create a good quality of living that includes good schools, parks, neighborhoods and cultural events."
The idea would be great, but could Muncie residents really embrace a large change like this? Or, embrace any significant changes for that matter?
Truex said he would like to see Muncie become one of the premier cities in the country. But it's questionable if it could happen. Some Muncie residents aren't the most comfortable people with change.
However, creating an environment that would attract people would be to Muncie's advantage. The downtown isn't attracting anybody, and numbers of Muncie homes are being foreclosed on.
But that's not to say these Ball State professors shouldn't try to expand Muncie's horizons. To take a page out of John F. Kennedy's book, they should do it, "not because it is easy, but because it is hard."
And all things worth doing take hard work.
And it's nice to see that people believe that being "green" is more than just a selling point. It's a responsibility the university should take upon itself.
Muncie isn't a complete sinkhole. It does have that cool Native American statue downtown. But, Ball State is an oasis of opportunity in Muncie.
It should take it upon itself to create a "green" Muncie because it provides the city with a better way of life. Mayor Sharon McShurley just went to Japan to try to create jobs in East Central Indiana. Muncie could benefit and prosper with the task of creating sustainable structures.
And Ball State can view helping Muncie as an investment more than an expense because if Muncie's stock rises, the university's will continue to soar.
We all keep hearing about "green" trends, but they affect more than just the tree huggers. They affect anyone with money and a stake in our community.
More "green" would increase the health of its residents and their well being. Also, it would give people some self-esteem because they will be proud, or more proud, to live in Muncie.
And finally, Ball State could benefit by pushing forward the "green" frontier. We always here about immersion programs for students, but why not give them experience changing a community.
And perhaps those students can learn from real world experiences with the professors who want to make a change for the better.
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