I was born and raised in Indianapolis. Reggie Miller and Peyton Manning are my childhood sports heroes. I love all things college basketball (go Hoosiers) and Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorite authors. But as much love as I have for the 'Nap, there's room for improvement in my hometown, namely in its public transportation - or lack thereof.
Last Wednesday, the Indiana State House of Representatives Roads and Transportation Committee approved House Bill 1011, which calls for a total revamp of bus routes and the implementation of a light rail system between the city and its northern suburbs. A tax hike of about 0.3% on Marion and Hamilton counties is proposed to cover these much-needed infrastructure modifications. If Indiana Representatives in the House Ways and Means committee continue to move the bill forward, the issue will be left up to voters in a 2014 referendum.
As an Indiana resident, I hope the bill passes. And as a DePauw student, I really hope it passes. Mass transit in Indy would mean big things for the University, even if the proposed system doesn't stretch all the way to Greencastle.
Despite being the 12th largest city in the U.S., urban sprawl in Indianapolis leads it to feel smaller and more disjointed than other large cities. Public transportation would help to concentrate the metropolis and unify its bedroom communities. This concentration would bring Indianapolis up to par with other major metropolitan areas and continue to propel its rapid growth. And if last year's surge-free hosting of Super Bowl XLVI was any indication, Indy undoubtedly has the capacity to become a world-class economic and cultural hub.
With DePauw just an hour west, the University can only benefit from association. However quaint, Greencastle either charms or repels prospective students, faculty candidates or visiting speakers. Indianapolis' close proximity, especially in light of the new public transportation system, could become an even more convincing, more attractive draw to DePauw.
Many DePauw graduates seek employment in Indianapolis, and its development will only bring more jobs and opportunities to the city. Keeping our alumni close can only prove positive for current students looking to make professional connections. Not to mention, Indy-based DePauw alumni would be better able to visit their alma mater and take part in campus life events like Monon Bell or Old Gold weekends. The more frequently they visit, the more they're reminded of what makes our institution so great - and the more likely they are to give to our endowment, set up scholarships or fund projects like the Hoover Dining Hall.
Mass transit in Indianapolis might not be the ultimate solution for building a better Indianapolis, but it's a start. And though geographically we might feel isolated from the Hoosier State's capital city, the effects of legislation like House Bill 1011 can still trickle down to DePauw.
- Brelage is senior from Indianapolis, Ind. majoring in English writing.
