The Keene State College community crossed paths with citizens from the City of Keene in last week’s event hosted by NH Listens and the City/College Commission. “Good Neighbors: A Community Conversation to Strengthen City-College Connections and Relationships” took place Tuesday, April 14, in Heberton Hall, at Keene Public Library.
According to a post on the Keene State College website, the goal of the meeting was to “Get informed, hear important priorities and consider the decisions that impact, represent and affect us all.” Many representatives from KSC were present at the discussion, including Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Kemal Atkins, Provost Walter Zahaki and President Anne Huot.
Numerous other professors, students, city councilmen and city commissioners who were also present were split into six groups, 10 or so people in each group. Each group had a trained facilitator from NH Listens who asked questions and kept the conversations moving.
Jordan Crowley / Equinox Staff
NH Listens is a group that aims to solve real world problems with community-based organizing and discussion. According to their website, “Our vision is to create a network of engaged communities in New Hampshire that can share their experiences and resources for getting ‘unstuck’ and solving public problems.” The organization was established in 2011.
After a few opening remarks from Zahaki and Huot, the groups began their discussions. These are the findings and discussions from the members of Group B.
Group B had 11 people ranging from students to Keene citizens, with a plethora of professions and stories in between. Everyone was on a first-name basis, though some people in the group were willing to use their last names.
After introductions, Cara, Group B’s facilitator, began asking questions. The first question for the group regarded the values of the KSC-Keene relationship.
The members of the group listed many reasons the college was important to the city, and vice versa. Andy Bohannon, director of Parks and Recreation for Keene, commented on how the students bring a different sense of diversity and culture to the city.
Randy L. Filiault, a 17-year member of the Keene City Council, agreed in this sentiment and also commented on the mutual relationship students and businesses have in the city. Local businesses provide students with jobs and students provide businesses with money and labor.
Debbie, a local who also works with adult education at the college, spoke about the array of programs on campus that are available to the community, such as the many events that are open to the public every week.
One member of the group mentioned that he and his wife eat at Zorn Dining Commons on occasion. Most members of the group agreed that, as a whole, the college is good for the City of Keene, save for a small portion of the KSC community.
“The only thing I don’t like about it is a small percent of out of control students,” Filiault said.
After this discussion, Cara asked the group about what they felt were the greatest threats to these values.
Dick, a member of the City/College Commission, commented on the perceived lack of policy enforcement by the school. Other members of the group questioned how the college reprimands its students that violate rules or break the law.
“Violations should result in community service,” Tim Zinn proposed to the group. Zinn has been a resident of Keene since the 1990s and is now raising his two daughters in the city.
One member of Group B said that college students may be too immersed in college life, neglecting the community around them. The group compiled its most important findings into a list to share with the other five groups. Overall, the other groups had similar ideas and findings to Group B. A major idea brought up by all groups was the idea of communication.
Proper communication between members of the college and members of the Keene community can prevent situations like last year’s Pumpkin Fest riots from happening.
Skyler Frazer can be contacted at sfrazer@kscequinox.com