President Baker is doing what ever he can to improve the NIU/DeKalb & Sycamore relationship.

http://www.niutoday.info/2015/07/20/bake...-audience/

Thanks for posting. Not to put a negative spin on it, but it kinda makes previous presidents look bad, IMO. To think that Baker seems to be the only one that really wants to work with the community. Maybe the others didn't feel it was necessary?

Anyway, I'm glad that they seem to be cooperating. Hopefully it will improve matters.

(07-21-2015 08:23 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Thanks for posting. Not to put a negative spin on it, but it kinda makes previous presidents look bad, IMO. To think that Baker seems to be the only one that really wants to work with the community. Maybe the others didn't feel it was necessary?

Anyway, I'm glad that they seem to be cooperating. Hopefully it will improve matters.

Things change from pres to pres. But in todays setting, a state school cannot afford to have a pure academic as pres. Issues have changed so much.

Quote:Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy said his city, “although not connected geographically to NIU,” is deeply vested in the university’s success and its role in the region’s educational and economic health. “The outreach under Doug Baker to locals is impressive. He talked at our City Council meeting and focused his comments on students: retention, engagement, attraction and student career success. No other president in memory has addressed the Sycamore City Council, and his remarks are appreciated,” said Mundy, an NIU alum and retiree. - See more at: http://www.niutoday.info/2015/07/20/bake...mGJUV.dpuf

That's sad that Peters did not engage Sycamore.

Bloomington-Normal....

Champaign-Urbana....

I understand that NIU is not in the middle of DeKalb/Sycamore like these other examples but still...

You would be shock to see how the campus town has changed around U of I and ISU. High rent 15 story apartments and condos being build next to U of I campus. We are years away from developing what these two schools and towns have done.

(07-21-2015 09:22 AM)NIU75 Wrote:  You will be shock to see how the campus town has changed around U of I and ISU. High rent 15 story apartments and condos being build next to U of I campus. We are years away from developing what these two schools and towns have done.

Bloomington & Champaign are also much bigger metro areas when compared with DeKalb.

“It became clear to me early on in my tenure here that we needed to formalize our relationship a bit and put some resources behind our effort to undertake projects jointly with the city,” Baker added.

It was tough for Dr. Peters to do this since his vice president down the hall owned Section 8 Housing in DeKalb.

(07-21-2015 09:03 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  No other president in memory has addressed the Sycamore City Council, and his remarks are appreciated,” said Mundy, an NIU alum and retiree.

It's early, but I may not read a more mind-blowing comment today........

(07-21-2015 09:44 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 09:03 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  No other president in memory has addressed the Sycamore City Council, and his remarks are appreciated,” said Mundy, an NIU alum and retiree.

It's early, but I may not read a more mind-blowing comment today........

kind of interesting that the city gives kudos for Pres Baker approaching the city. Where has the city been in approaching the U. Sometimes I think dekalb thinks it does not need the U

(07-21-2015 09:44 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 09:03 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  No other president in memory has addressed the Sycamore City Council, and his remarks are appreciated,” said Mundy, an NIU alum and retiree.

It's early, but I may not read a more mind-blowing comment today........

Yea that's pretty hard to believe.

Better late than never. We all made jokes about Baker coming from Idaho State, but he really seems to be the best person for the job.

(07-21-2015 01:07 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  Better late than never. We all made jokes about Baker coming from Idaho State, but he really seems to be the best person for the job.

Still remember that first thread with the announcement of his appointment and how pissed off some people on here were.

Yup I made fun of him for being from Idaho and losing out to the NM ST job.

We got a good one.

For real...thought this was referring to Bill Baker!! I love that guy

When Jeff Compher came here a lot of people thought he was going to be great, while that is in no way applicable to Baker, not clear why everyone is crowning him with all these superlatives when it's still early. Believe the jury is still out on seeing any tangible changes with the community and a year in, there are now grumbles among some faculty and staff.
Wouldn't you expect an article in NIU Today to portray him in a particularly positive light? No offense, but he isn't the first president to use phrases like "town-and-gown," "commun-iversity," etc. Others have tried and the town -- equal parts cheap and mule-headed -- has not always embraced the school and vice-versa. Quite frankly, more than a few DeKalb residents are not thrilled with this mayor and "Save Our Homes" signs are within blocks of the campus as a result of opposition to some of the plans to connect the campus to downtown DeKalb and re-do Johns Street. Former NIU President William Monat went on to actually head up the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, so it's not entirely accurate to say past administrations did nothing, some not only put down roots in town, but tried lending their expertise directly. With all due respect to Sycamore's mayor, outside of the NIU Marching Band being featured in the Pumpkin Fest parade, Sycamore hasn't gone out of its way to support the university, especially since most of the recent faculty, staff, coaches, etc., have come to work at NIU but chose to reside in Sycamore. Both towns owe a lot more to the university than they're willing to acknowledge and both could do more to support Huskie athletics.

(07-21-2015 07:53 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  When Jeff Compher came here a lot of people thought he was going to be great, while that is in no way applicable to Baker, not clear why everyone is crowning him with all these superlatives when it's still early. Believe the jury is still out on seeing any tangible changes with the community and a year in, there are now grumbles among some faculty and staff.
Wouldn't you expect an article in NIU Today to portray him in a particularly positive light? No offense, but he isn't the first president to use phrases like "town-and-gown," "commun-iversity," etc. Others have tried and the town -- equal parts cheap and mule-headed -- has not always embraced the school and vice-versa. Quite frankly, more than a few DeKalb residents are not thrilled with this mayor and "Save Our Homes" signs are within blocks of the campus as a result of opposition to some of the plans to connect the campus to downtown DeKalb and re-do Johns Street. Former NIU President William Monat went on to actually head up the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, so it's not entirely accurate to say past administrations did nothing, some not only put down roots in town, but tried lending their expertise directly. With all due respect to Sycamore's mayor, outside of the NIU Marching Band being featured in the Pumpkin Fest parade, Sycamore hasn't gone out of its way to support the university, especially since most of the recent faculty, staff, coaches, etc., have come to work at NIU but chose to reside in Sycamore. Both towns owe a lot more to the university than they're willing to acknowledge and both could do more to support Huskie athletics.

What is it about the new president that you dislike. Or are you just being a grumbling old man as always. I just don't understand your cynicism about him.

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2015/07/2...s/ad7uokm/


"Mayor John Rey identified six city priorities moving forward – infrastructure, financial stability, sustainability operations, strategic planning, public safety and the regional airport – at the 2015 State of the City address Tuesday."

Lots of other bits of info in the rest of it.

http://www.niutoday.info/2015/07/27/camp...ptember-2/


Campus-wide town hall set for September 2