2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor - UMKC's false democracy
Alex Gamble
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: Forum
(Full disclosure: I live at the Oak Place apartments in a 4 bedroom apartment, which is cheaper than Oak Street.)
We live in a society that, now more than ever in this election season, prides itself on democracy.
Democracy is a wonderful ideology, the idea that everyone's voice will be heard. But I wonder who democracy is really for - the people making the decisions or the people voting for the ones making the decisions.
Recently, I realized that democracy, at least here at UMKC, exists for the former.
The new Student Union, a project with a monstrous $38.3 million budget plan, will break ground on Oct. 3. I am from Texas, a land where big, multi-million dollar churches sprout up all the time, so to me this was nothing new.
When I first heard of the new project last year, my initial reaction was support, but that was before I got to know Kansas City more in depth.
I took an English class last year with Professor Dan Mahala. In the class, he taught us that, like everything else in this world, architecture is always saying something. He taught us how to read the layout of Kansas City, and since then I noticed a few things about UMKC.
UMKC prides itself on being in the heart of the city, yet for the past few years, UMKC has been moving closer and closer to the plaza. Oak Street Residence Hall opened in 2004, and, on Aug. 1, the Oak Place Apartments opened. In addition to this, construction has already begun on what will be Oak West, the newest addition to the Oak family, which will be sandwiched between Oak Place and the Russell Stover's headquarters.
The Oak Place Apartments cost about $55 million to build. More than $100 million is being invested in the new UMKC developments. Yet on the Troost side of UMKC, med students go to class in an old Hardee's restaurant, boarded up and painted gray to look semi-official.
Something is wrong here. Why would UMKC invest so much money on the Plaza side of the campus, yet neglect the Troost side? How can UMKC do this and claim to be an urban campus? If anyone has ever seen the Troost side of campus, it looks increasingly like (quite literally) UMKC has turned its back on one part of the city for the opportunity to draw more students (meaning it makes more money) by facing the nicer side of Kansas City.
We live in a society that, now more than ever in this election season, prides itself on democracy.
Democracy is a wonderful ideology, the idea that everyone's voice will be heard. But I wonder who democracy is really for - the people making the decisions or the people voting for the ones making the decisions.
Recently, I realized that democracy, at least here at UMKC, exists for the former.
The new Student Union, a project with a monstrous $38.3 million budget plan, will break ground on Oct. 3. I am from Texas, a land where big, multi-million dollar churches sprout up all the time, so to me this was nothing new.
When I first heard of the new project last year, my initial reaction was support, but that was before I got to know Kansas City more in depth.
I took an English class last year with Professor Dan Mahala. In the class, he taught us that, like everything else in this world, architecture is always saying something. He taught us how to read the layout of Kansas City, and since then I noticed a few things about UMKC.
UMKC prides itself on being in the heart of the city, yet for the past few years, UMKC has been moving closer and closer to the plaza. Oak Street Residence Hall opened in 2004, and, on Aug. 1, the Oak Place Apartments opened. In addition to this, construction has already begun on what will be Oak West, the newest addition to the Oak family, which will be sandwiched between Oak Place and the Russell Stover's headquarters.
The Oak Place Apartments cost about $55 million to build. More than $100 million is being invested in the new UMKC developments. Yet on the Troost side of UMKC, med students go to class in an old Hardee's restaurant, boarded up and painted gray to look semi-official.
Something is wrong here. Why would UMKC invest so much money on the Plaza side of the campus, yet neglect the Troost side? How can UMKC do this and claim to be an urban campus? If anyone has ever seen the Troost side of campus, it looks increasingly like (quite literally) UMKC has turned its back on one part of the city for the opportunity to draw more students (meaning it makes more money) by facing the nicer side of Kansas City.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
SGA is Worthless
posted 9/29/08 @ 9:53 PM CST
Thank your local SGA for their lack of support for students/unwillingness to question the UM brass.
JR
posted 10/02/08 @ 7:06 PM CST
Some of it has to do with land. Because the university is stuck in the middle of a city, land is very scarce. When the Rockhill parking structure was put up, there was public outcry because homes were bought out for the project. (Continued…)
Kill The New Ruskin Fence
posted 10/12/08 @ 1:07 PM CST
Why are you so surprised at UM boon doggles? In my student daze I've plenty of them at KC, Columbia, and 'Um Sull'...
The Wall Street Tsunami started on Main Street, and Troost, and Blue Ridge Extension. (Continued…)
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