Page 43 - 2022 Clemson Guide
P. 43

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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