Winter 2000 Environmental Audit

Winter 2000 - Environmental Audit

Perspectives
by David Axelrod

Western has no small effect on the community of Bellingham. A complete evaluation of the impact has driven me to go in search of perspectives from the University’s community environment. Is it the ivory tower of the exclusively self-righteous? Or a diverse community that has made Bellingham a melting pot? I was set on finding how Bellingham citizens really felt, uncut and uncensored.

A pile of hash browns sizzles over a range as the sun creeps over nearby rooftops. The cool of midnight blackness gives way to a radiant morning blue as flocks of weary students trickle through the streets, as I talk with a chef over the crackling potatoes. A neon sign identifies the "Little Cheerful," and buzzes in the front window. Life-long resident Zack Hilty is the chef. His clean-shaven face is a stark contrast to the greasy apron around his waist. Also part owner of Tony's Coffee, Hilty sees much of the community, especially college students. He asserts that diversity is one of the most valuable gifts Western gives to Bellingham. The restaurant's window seems to frame the rest of his thought: A man in torn clothes staggers to a street post, while a woman in a business suit crosses his path. She trails behind a younger girl with blond dreadlocks and a small puppy that dances wildly against its leash.

To many, including Hilty, Western’s doors have always been open and welcoming to the community. He feels comfortable using the university’s resources and opportunities.

Hilty finishes plating an omelet and a waitress arrives to retrieve it.

"Western students?" she asks, picking up on the tail of the conversation. She takes the omelet to a paying customer and quickly returns to the counter to talk.

"They don’t have much respect for the working class because they don’t have to," she said. "They just don’t understand why someone, like me, wouldn’t be in school." . She swerves around the tables refilling coffee and returns to the conversation.

"They gotta learn that we aren’t here for them; that is not our main purpose in life," she said as she leaned on the linoleum counter. "One good thing is that they go out and get drunk and come here and tip a lot." She takes a bottle of ketchup to a table and returns to work.

Ruthy and R.B. Porter have lived in Bellingham for five years. A Huxley graduate, Ruthy works at the Cascades Institute. R.B. has been a well known figure in the Bellingham community and, together with Ruthy is the co-owner of The Cookie Cafe downtown. They see growth management as the only thorn in the Western/ Bellingham relationship.

"Bellingham wants growth, the university wants growth, and even Happy Valley wants growth," Ruthy says, referring to Western's expansion into the neighborhood adjacent to campus. "They just want it up(ward), she adds leaning forward in her rocking chair.

Sassy, their small gray-and-white cat, jumps up and sits next to me on the sofa.

'They need to improve (growth management) if they are going to grow," Ruthy explains. Western's growth has meant an increasing number of parked cars in the Porter's neighborhood and has raised some concern with local Western neighbors. Especially upset are those in Happy Valley, an area that is slated for redevelopment in the university's master plan.

"There is going to have to be some compromise, and someone is going to be unhappy," Ruthy says.

The two of them sit across from me, the twinkling lights of Bellingham visible through their glass door. The Western population has brought a lot to the community, such as jobs, people, services and liberal ideas, R.B. says. Western students have not only supported his business but also assisted R.B. with some of his accounting projects.

"Western is one of the most liberal state institutions in the country," R.B. says. Together, they add that the knowledge and information gained at Western is localized and shared, not restricted to the institution. The students use the local environment as a subject of research and actively give back by sharing the information with the local community, particularly Huxley's investigations into local environmental issues.

Mayor Mark Asmundson is a Bellingham native and a Western graduate who has been here most of his life. His office is lined with wood paneling and a series of large bookcases; a motionless American flag hangs from a small flagpole next to the window. Small pieces of Asian art dot the walls and a topographical map of Whatcom County hangs over the doorway. We discuss Western's role in the community.

"Bellingham's cultural opportunities are greatly enriched by the existence of the university," Asmundson says, adding that he believes the university has generally welcomed the local community to the use of its resources.

"But it is the norm for universities to operate in pretty good isolation from the community they are in," Asmundson adds. "Real strides have been made in expanding and strengthening the ties between the university and the community at large; as an institution it easily forgets where it is and the impacts its activities can have on the surrounding areas." He is referring to excessive traffic, parking and increased noise.

"There is a historical tendency that neighborhoods around universities get turned into dilapidated houses, and there are parties and cars are everywhere," he adds. But the impacts are not just social.

"Western is a big commercial-type operation surrounded by residential neighborhoods," Asmundson explains. "At times I don't think the institution understands how significant of an impact commercial activity has on life in the neighborhoods, and (it) is not as sensitive to that as would be helpful."

"The scarcest commodity in Bellingham is land," Asmundson says, questioning the university's motives in acquisition practices.

"The other thing the university should do — and this is just an absolute should — is abandon the notion that everything has to be contiguous and wake up and put some facilities in downtown Bellingham ... it would be good for the university and good for Bellingham."

Clearly, there are as many opinions on Western as there are residents in Bellingham. Unbridled growth concerns both citizens and politicians. The university has the money but the community has the conscience — a successful relationship must continue to balance the two.

Winter 2000 - Environmental Audit

Perspectives by David Axelrod

Perspectives
by David Axelrod