Page 43 - 2022 Clemson Guide

International Town & Gown Association
In t erna tional T o wn & Go wn Associa tion

RE TURNS T O CLEMSON
RE TURNS T O CLEMSON by Michael Hall
by Michael Hall
academic leaders joined forces to create the International
College towns around the country benefit from
College towns around the country benefit from academic leaders joined forces to create the International The 2022 ITGA Conference, which draws international
The 2022 ITGA Conference, which draws international
Town and Gown Association, ITGA. The nonprofit
the injection of young, educated, and energetic
the injection of young, educated, and energetic Town and Gown Association, ITGA. The nonprofit members, will return home to Clemson this summer for
members, will return home to Clemson this summer for
focuses on unifying the two entities, creating clear and
people seeking to make their marks on the world. focuses on unifying the two entities, creating clear and the first time since 2014. Johnson Link, Associate Vice
people seeking to make their marks on the world.
the first time since 2014. Johnson Link, Associate Vice
But they also face challenges and issues that open communication between the two and providing a President for Student Affairs at Clemson University, said
But they also face challenges and issues that
open communication between the two and providing a
President for Student Affairs at Clemson University, said
forum for them to come together to make both better.
may not be prevalent in a city without a
may not be prevalent in a city without a forum for them to come together to make both better. the conference is where the true mission of ITGA is on
the conference is where the true mission of ITGA is on
college as a major economic driver.
college as a major economic driver. The model soon spread around the world and college full display.
The model soon spread around the world and college
full display.
towns internationally were
towns internationally were
Clemson leaders had that in mind
Clemson leaders had that in mind doing the same thing. “This is a great forum to have those discussions about
“This is a great forum to have those discussions about
doing the same thing.
in 2008 when municipal and the issues we face and how to address them,” Link said.
in 2008 when municipal and
the issues we face and how to address them,” Link said.
“It certainly means a lot to this community and to
“It certainly means a lot to this community and to
communities around the world.”
communities around the world.”
The 2022 conference will be the first in-person meeting
The 2022 conference will be the first in-person meeting
of the association since 2019. After two years of
of the association since 2019. After two years of
trudging through the challenges of the pandemic,
trudging through the challenges of the pandemic,
Clemson Mayor Robert Halfacre said communities
Clemson Mayor Robert Halfacre said communities
around the globe will have plenty to discuss. He
around the globe will have plenty to discuss. He
expects many positives to come from the discussions.
“It’s really the perfect time for
“It’s really the perfect time for expects many positives to come from the discussions.
this conference,” Halfacre said.
this conference,” Halfacre said.
“We have learned so much about
“We have learned so much about
communicating and how to take
communicating and how to take
challenges by the horns that I believe
challenges by the horns that I believe
Clemson and other communities have
Clemson and other communities have
emerged stronger since the pandemic began.”
emerged stronger since the pandemic began.”
Link said Clemson, like many other areas,
Link said Clemson, like many other areas,
experienced unprecedented growth in recent years,
experienced unprecedented growth in recent years,
another topic for ITGA members to discuss.
another topic for ITGA members to discuss.
and emerging needs of its members. The
“Both the city and the university have grown and emerging needs of its members. The
“Both the city and the university have grown
Communications Committee, Racial Justice and
significantly in the last few years,” Link said. Communications Committee, Racial Justice and
significantly in the last few years,” Link said.
Equity Committee, and Professional Development
“There are always growing pains, which is Equity Committee, and Professional Development
“There are always growing pains, which is
Committee each targets issues specific to their areas
something to which we can all relate.” Committee each targets issues specific to their areas
something to which we can all relate.”
of focus.
of focus.
It is ITGA’s goal to discuss those topics and anything
It is ITGA’s goal to discuss those topics and anything
Having the expertise and knowledge of the committees
else that may enhance communities and how they
else that may enhance communities and how they Having the expertise and knowledge of the committees
and the members of the ITGA come back to Clemson is
work together to tackle issues. and the members of the ITGA come back to Clemson is
work together to tackle issues.
exciting, Halfacre said.
exciting, Halfacre said.
“This is a great forum to have those discussions,”
“This is a great forum to have those discussions,”
“ITGA started here and has grown tremendously. It’s
Link said. ITGA has three committees designed
Link said. ITGA has three committees designed “ITGA started here and has grown tremendously. It’s
good to know it’s coming home again,” he said.
to align engagement efforts with the current good to know it’s coming home again,” he said.
to align engagement efforts with the current
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