Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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McCloskey integrates town, gown lives Bloomington Mayor Frank McCloskey says he ' s not sit- ting here (in his office) saying ' Gee whiz, what am I going to do for the students this week? ' Students are general citizens of the community, he said. Let ' s face it. Students could be half of the constituency. They give progressive, open politics a base and a chance to thrive, which is relatively rare. Since election to his first mayoral term in 1971, McClos- key has tried to get more students involved in city govern- ment. Dialogue with the student community varies with the political climate of the time, said McCloskey, adding that students were more politically oriented in 1971 that they are today. But despite that fact, more students are in- volved in city government today through internships, work-study jobs and appointments to boards and commis- sions. McCloskey enjoys responsible dialogue with students and says the students who express their concerns about things like human rights and bike paths have a positive input into the process. McCloskey said he thinks it is im- portant that students, as citizens of the community, are standing up publicly and privately for their rights. He is proud that his administration has been an open one. People have access to government and are participating in the process. It wasn ' t that way before. There is a willingness to try new ideas. McCloskey stressed the fact that he thinks more people should have access to public officials. He receives about six to eight invitations to lecture to classes each year. I go anytime I ' m asked, to any class — that goes for kindergarten through college. This year he went one step further. Charles Bonser, dean of the lU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, had asked him to teach a course. Management and the Inter- governmental System. And after a two to three year delay, I picked up on the idea, McCloskey said. The course was beneficial to him, too, he said, because it helped me struc- ture my thinking. McCloskey likes to visit the campus informally every chance I get, he said. Bloomington would not be the city it is without lU, he said, pointing out a few of the things that make it special — like a national champion basketball team and the opera. His daughter, Helen, had a small part in the production of Verdi ' s Falstaff. The spirit and culture (at lU) are an asset to the commu- nity, McCloskey said. One of the few problems the univer- sity creates for the city is the strain on housing and the eco- nomic tension the artificial housing market creates. The university apparatus, here to serve the students, has more than half of the real property value in the city and pays almost nothing in tax support, McCloskey said, noting another economic problem a university town faces. But on the other hand, students are a big boon to the economy. I believe in political life and political vocation. It ' s the most important thing to do, McCloskey said. But I ' ll be almost 40 years old (when he finishes his second term) and a burned-out politician with no law experience. So I may find my way over to the courthouse and start suing insur- ance companies. 28 Linda Abrahams

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when persons become more conscious of diet and how it affects their well-being, they have more control over their own lives, Smith said. He said Clear Moment Cooperative is not an end in itself. We are trying to grow into the com- munity. The organization is currently working with Headstart and helping People ' s Place with its recycling ef- forts. Clear Moment members donate $150 a month and are en- couraged to volunteer working time. Future plans include cooking and sewing classes at People ' s Place and working together with other food co-ops and organizations for com- munity needs. Smith said. Fooods Co-op has no storefront; foods are bulk-ordered and distributed at the Alternative High School about four times a semester. Instead of a membership fee, persons are asked to deposit $3 in the treasury to cover possible price changes within a year ' s time. This money is returned to members as they leave. Because there is no middle man or overhead cost, food can be purchased cheaply, Eleanor Peachy, member and former food orderer, sai d. The organization can also get a variety of foods from a variety of places since things are catalogue-ordered, she said. Beckv Stiles I 1

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(OPPOSITE) Mayor Frank McCloskey, who says he enjoys responsible dialogue with students, takes time out for a phone conversation in his of- fice at Bloomington Police Headquar- ters, located at Fourth and Walnut streets. (ABOVE) McCloskey taught the SPEA course. Management and the Intergov- ernmental System, last fall. He said the course was helpful in structuring his thinking. IJ Schwalm Bob Cohn 29