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News Release BOISE STATE NEWS RELEASE / July 1, 2009 Boise State, City of Boise Team Up for Unique Class Looking at Boise's History, Inner Workings A unique partnership between Boise State University and the City of Boise has led to a first of its kind program for students interested in the wide swath of Boise’s history and the city’s inner workings. Billed as “a field school of urban affairs,” the immersive, two-part, 10-day class titled “Investigate Boise” features the insights of Boise State history professor Todd Shallat and Boise City Councilman David Eberle, a doctoral-level economist. In addition, three other Boise State professors, two city council members and agency directors from the City of Boise and the Capitol City Development Corporation are helping teach the 50 Boise State students taking the class. Boise State senior and lifelong Boise resident Hayley Perkins said the unique class caught her attention because of her interest in city planning and the insight it offered into little known things about her hometown. “I had no idea about all of the old buildings that were razed in downtown Boise during the 60s and the 70s,” said Perkins, a communication major at Boise State. Partly because of the class, she may pursue a master’s degree in community and regional planning, a new master’s degree program at Boise State that could be up and running by the fall of 2010. “My favorite buildings downtown are the old ones. It breaks my heart to know that we could have had so many more.” Perkins’ realization about the value of Boise’s past, and growing understanding of how decisions about the city’s future are made, is exactly the kind of lesson in citizenship that Shallat and Eberle hope to impart to students in the new class. “This class is really designed to be a place-based approach to a study of Boise in all its facets,” said Shallat, who also is director of Boise State’s Center for Idaho History and Politics. “David works on the inside – as a Boise-born businessman, and now city councilman. I work on the outside – as a historian from another place who has written several books about the things Boiseans tend to take for granted. Together, we know Boise like the backs of our hands.” The second phase of the class begins Monday and runs through Friday, focusing on the city’s surrounding region, including trips to Avimor, Hammer Flats and Arrowrock Dam. The first phase of the popular class was held June 16-19 and featured a tour of the city with a “focus on water, transportation, architecture, commerce and social welfare.” The class is using school buses, city buses, segways and foot-power to visit “places at the center of policy debate.” “What really interests me is the way the structure of this class allows students to make that rare connection between models and theories to what’s happening in reality,” said Eberle. “For students to truly develop their intellect, they need to make that connection, and the only way to do that is to get out and see things in action. On top of that, it sounded like a lot of fun. Classes like these were always my favorite when I was in school.” The class was a popular offering for students this summer, quickly filling the first time it was offered. Community sponsors include Baum Realty, the Boise City Council and Adventure Tours of Idaho. Based out of a storefront in downtown Boise, the class also is seen by Melissa Lavitt, dean of Boise State’s College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, as a pilot project for more downtown-centered classes, activities and outreach for the college. “A great city needs a great university,” said Lavitt. “This latest partnership is a perfect demonstration of how we are growing stronger together. This program is only the beginning of the college’s renewed commitment to engage Idahoans on civic issues.” -30- Media Contact: Kathleen Tuck, University Communications, (208) 426-3275, kathleentuck@boisestate.edu About Boise State University Boise State is an emerging metropolitan research university of distinction and the largest university in Idaho with more than 19,000 students. The campus is home to 11 Idaho Professors of the Year since 1990. The colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Social Sciences and Public Affairs offer more than 200 academic programs.
Last reviewed on Wednesday, July 01, 2009
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