Campus Partners for Community Urban Redevelopment is a non-profit corporation; its mission is to “improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods of the university District which surround the Columbus Campus of the Ohio State University.”
One focus area has been High Street; Campus Partners hope to accomplish the following goals:
- Restore High Street as the symbolic heart of the University District
- Re-establish High Street as a vital “Main Street”
- Create a place for new economic opportunities, and
- Reinforce High Street as an environment that supports learning
Campus Partners claim credit for the following “improvements” on High Street:
- South Campus Gateway, which opened in 2005 with a total investment of more than $154 million
- Newport Music Hall opened a night club on its second floor
- Urban Outfitters opened its first store in Ohio
- Starbucks opened a café
- Buffalo Wild Wings opened a restaurant and bar in 2007, occupying a 8,000 square-foot building
- In 2008, Panda Express opened a restaurant
Ohio State has funded the study of high Street with $75,000.
The Student Advisory Board, which had been founded in 1996 to encourage student participation in the planning and improvements for the University District, had been disbanded after the opening of the South Campus Gateway. According to the Campus Partners webpage, this panel dissolved because of a lack of interest. The Campus Partners Board of Directors only offers one seat to a student representative.
Campus Partners claims to work in the interest of the University and its students. But how can the board understand the needs and wants of the campus when only one vote represents a student population of 60,000? High Street was meant to be a “symbolic heart” and an “environment that supports learning.” Where is the heart in the Ugly Tuna? What is to be learned from BW3s?
I have a few possible angles…
- Argue for more student representation
- Argue that Campus Partners has thus far failed in its mission
- Argue that the University should stop funding this dysfunctional partnership
I think this is a relevant topic to pursue for your documentary. Your description should serve as a good template for your B roll shots: Panda Express, the Ugly Tuna, Urban Outfitters, etc. As to your possible angles: I think you can work each of these questions into your video argument. Remember, you will have to keep things moving in a 5 to 7 minute video. Presenting a range of points will establish variety and a sense of urgency. Another thing that you should consider is how you plan to engage with the audience? Will you be addressing them directly as students who should get more involved? Do you want to implicate some of the university leaders who are neglecting their civic responsibilities? And what about interviews? Perhaps you can talk to the average student or people who frequent South Gateway or the Campus Partners?
Good start. You should move forward with capturing footage.