UI's health is central to C-U's future
By Dan McCollum

   Champaign County has come a long way from the rude, frontier backwater that it was in 1850.
   The great change began with the coming of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1854, which brought in the yeomanry. In less than two decades, the trackless wilderness was transformed into a patchwork of productive farms.
   Then in 1867, an imaginative group of local boosters led by Clark R. Griggs prevailed against heavy odds in their campaign to have the state university located in Champaign-Urbana. As a result, instead of becoming a fairly prosperous, rural county seat such as Paris, Monticello or Paxton, the twin cities have become a vibrant, sophisticated metropolitan area with a seemingly bright future. The benefits, especially economic, have spilled over into the county and region as well.
   The current political climate in Illinois no longer tolerates what has been considered by many to be the "privileged" position of Champaign-Urbana. The transformation of the five normal colleges (Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Illinois State universities) into significant universities and the explosive growth of the University of Illinois in Chicago should be the wake-up call, should any be needed. State financial support is only part of the problem - there is also strong competition for quality faculty and promising students.
   We must ask ourselves two questions: What makes this a great place for the major state university and what is not so good? Responding to the first question is relatively easy. A community that has fine schools, social harmony, good environment, well-maintained infrastructure, and all neighborhoods clean and safe, would do for starters.
   Answering the second question offers more of a challenge. And, more importantly, when we identify our weaknesses, what should we be doing about them?
   I think most people would say that the twin cities work fairly well in spite of the confusing, multiple-jurisdiction environment in which they are forced to operate. But with the exception of our parks, we do not rate superior in any of the categories mentioned above. This is hardly a good start to the growing challenges of the 21st century.
   So, where do we go from here? First, the cities must work in harmony together and with the campus administration to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the multiple-jurisdiction environment works. The considerable strides already made in recent years - the assumption of fire protection by the cities, Campustown 2000 and the Campus Area Traffic Study - must be built upon.
   Local government, city councils and boards of education must address the considerable social and economic disparity that exists in Champaign-Urbana. Black residents are affected disproportionately. This situation has significantly diminished the quality of life for all and has compromised the atmosphere that should prevail in an academic community. Not only have we had to augment local police forces substantially, we have twice had to build new jail facilities as well as now construct a new, expanded youth detention center. Still the safety of students has been called into question. Are parents going to allow their sons and daughters to be in an environment that they perceive to be unsafe?
   The ultimate answer is not to build more jails and hire more police. We must prevent the problems of our youngsters so that they never become pathologies. The Project 18 emphasis upon prevention - prenatal health, quality child care, effective Head Start and - most important of all - schools that work for everyone -   must be the goals of the entire community. The product of our schools must be concerned, contributing citizens and a quality work force to make our cities, county and university work.
   While I would not hold my breath for it to happen, I believe that the merger of Champaign, Urbana and Savoy would reduce conflict and improve efficiency far beyond our laudable efforts at intergovernmental cooperation. Multiple bureaucracies, conflicting regulations, disparate goals, and destructive competition have their costs. Without question, such a city, breaking into the top 10 largest cities in the state, would allow us to carry much more weight than our divided status now affords.
   And while we are consolidating local governmental bodies, I would include the school and park districts. Think back to the dire predictions many made when the local chambers of commerce were consolidated. The new organization took the strengths of both existing chambers, left behind most weaknesses, and created an entity of which the business community can truly be proud.
   Less directly connected with the health of the university, but still related, are the problems that exist within county government.
   The traditional hostility displayed by the county toward the cities has diminished the effectiveness of all the entities concerned. Probably the No. 1 need is the creation of single-member districts to better represent individual constituencies. This would require more, but smaller, districts. At the same time, a probable result would be fewer members over all - 27 is just too many. While we are dreaming, we might add that the county board chair should be elected at large. We need a leader who is directly responsible, as well as accountable, to the voters. An excellent opportunity exists for these changes in 2002 when the census results will require redistricting.
   Further, township governments, an outmoded and inefficient layer, should be eliminated. Its few necessary functions could easily be assumed by a reorganized county government.
   Yet another dream: I would like to see all local offices elected on a nonpartisan basis. While this would not eliminate totally the mischief that the two political parties cause, it could not help but reduce the narrowness in outlook that all too often is exhibited in the conduct of public affairs.
   Finally, I am concerned about the problems of urban sprawl. It cannot be contained unless there is a reasonable level of cooperation between the cities and county. Sprawl gobbles up our agricultural base, aggravates destructive competition between neighboring municipalities and maximizes the cost of infrastructure and urban services. Champaign, Urbana and Savoy already have their problems and, unless Mahomet and Champaign agree to a substantial buffer zone between the two, similar problems are inevitable along U.S. 150.
   Many of the things that I mention here have been proposed by idealists and "good government types" before. I see them today as essential to elevating our community and county to the superior community that it must be.
   I recognize that more than a few of my suggestions may not represent the views of many in the twin cities. However, they are the thoughts of one who has lived in the county for 62 years (being born in Urbana and raised in Champaign), who was a product of local schools (including the University of Illinois) and who served in local office for a fourth of his life.
   Though I probably will not live to see even a quarter of the 21st century, I care about what the future will bring and sincerely hope that the contributions that many of us have made will build toward a healthy and prosperous place when someone else writes just such a piece 100 years from now.

   Dan McCollum is the only person to serve three consecutive terms as mayor of Champaign. He also served on the city council before being elected mayor. Mccollum, an Urbana native who grew up in Champaign, is now retired. The official historian of Champaign while he was mayor, Mccollum probably knows more about local history than anyone alive. His vision, though, has never been aimed backward; he has always invoked history as a lesson for the future.

   The News-Gazette welcomes comments from readers on the issues raised in this article. Please send your comments to: Editor, The News-Gazette, 15 Main St., P.O. Box 677, Champaign, IL 61824-0677. Send comments by e-mail to news@news-gazette.com.