It was in every college movie. Surely all of us saw it because it was one of those “expected” perks about a university we were all looking forward to: the college town.
After arduous hours of studying in a cubicle located in that obscure place in the library, it’s disappointing when someone informs you about the lack of nightlife Riverside has to offer. Contrary to popular belief, the city of Riverside is actually putting in the effort to create a more college-friendly area that students should make an effort to go out and see.
Thankfully — and hopefully in response to the complaints from unsatisfied college students — the city of Riverside has made a deal with Fox Theatre and Live Nation. The Fox Theatre has now has formed a contract with one of the largest concert promoters, well-known for bringing entertainment for young adult audiences. This will hopefully assuage the complaints, including “(high) ticket prices, scarce bookings that lacked diversity, and unresponsive management.”
The diversity in performances will help alter the theatre’s usual choices of chamber music quartets which seem to cause students to steer clear of the theatre. This inhibited Riverside from creating a college culture. The Fox Theatre, with the promise to have more diverse music will create a hot-spot for college students in not just UC Riverside but the other three colleges in Riverside: California Baptist University, La Sierra University, and Riverside City College.
“It’s Riverside,” has become the justification for why this town lacks the excitement it should offer to college students. It is difficult to define exactly what a college town needs to do to be considered a place favorable to students. The city of Riverside’s attempts over the last few years to open up many new eateries in downtown Riverside, such as D-Dogs, The Salted Pig and Auggie’s Coffee House, have yet to grasp the complete interest of students.
To have four college campuses in town would seem to create a demand on the city to place more effort into its entertainment sector, but the city may not be the only one with a role to play. Understandably, UC Riverside is known to be a commuter school, which doesn’t allow for an influx of college students in UCR’s nearby plazas. But for there to be a larger demand, it would definitely require students to take the initiative and explore the options in Riverside.
Conversely, it is also difficult when students aren’t completely aware of the activities that actually happen in downtown Riverside. The whole idea of a college town is a two-way street. There needs to be participation from not only the city but from the students as well. Riverside should engage college students to attend its numerous festivals throughout the year such as the Long Nights of Arts and Innovation or Saturation Festival by advertising on campus through posters, displays and stands to give students a better connection to what’s happening outside of UC Riverside.
Although it is difficult to travel around Riverside, trips downtown are not so strenuous, especially when UC Riverside students have free bus passes for the Riverside Transit System (RTA). And to be frank, the bus system is not terrifying, so that stigma about the buses should be ignored. The bus stops are very close to the the campus’ parameters, which are well-situated for quick trips downtown with friends. But RTA should also provide routes that go straight downtown and back to the UCR campus, which will draw students to take this short trip to enjoy the city life in Riverside.
Providing shuttles during large festivals for UC Riverside students would not only benefit students by allowing a convenient means of transportation to the event, but also increase the attendance and intrigue even more, encouraging students to participate in downtown Riverside events. The difficulty with Riverside is how spread apart these options are to students. The city should focus on enhancing downtown Riverside due to its proximity to the colleges within the city. By focusing on improving the shopping, dining, and entertainment options, it will allow for college students and the city to establish a true “college town.”
Although the city does have two mall plazas that are somewhat close to the campuses in Riverside, placing more shopping areas downtown will draw in students who are not just interesting in eating and viewing museums but who also want to partake in recreational shopping trips as well. Multiple options lead to multiple reasons for why students should then visit downtown Riverside. However, in order for the city to understand this demand, we students need to show the city that there is a longing for a college hot-spot and that the time invested in creating this college-town will benefit both parties.
