By Rick Peterson
Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2003
During his 20 years as dean of admissions and financial aid, Steve Syverson has welcomed tens of thousands of prospective students and their families to the Lawrence campus. For most who are unfamiliar with Appleton, or arrive from a great distance, the assumption often is that Appleton is a tiny college town out in the middle of the cornfields and dairy farms of Wisconsin.
"A drive through downtown Appleton on the way to campus quickly disabuses them of that image," Syverson says. "In fact, it leaves quite a positive impression — a small, clean, active city rather than a remote, isolated college town. We will never persuade students seeking a big-city environment to come here, of course, but there are lots of folks who leave after a visit with a very different image than the one they had before they arrived."
For those who decide to come here as undergraduates, whether it be from near or far, Appleton becomes their de facto home away from home. In a totally unscientific survey, a small number of students were asked their impressions of the changes that have occurred in their adopted hometown.
"The changes seem both impressive and tasteful. The Performing Arts Center is certainly a valuable addition to Appleton and the Fox Valley. To be honest, though, I have not felt any significant effects of the downtown changes upon the student community. The street remodeling, while pleasing to the eye, does not affect the business of students." — Sean Smith, '03, Ripon
"Students sometimes complain that the only place to find any culture in Appleton was on our campus. While the Avenue offered a host of local bars and restaurants, it seemed to be missing the cultural aspects that you would expect a city of 70,000 people to have. Students would remain on campus if they expected to hear good music or take in a show. Now, with the Performing Arts Center and a new storefront space for the Appleton Art Center, students have more reason to wander down the Avenue instead of staying on campus for their cultural fix. With the inclusion of Lawrence students in the PAC's repertoire, I suspect students will have the opportunity to discover the new College Avenue and the many opportunities it has to offer." — Jenny Dieter, '03, Cary, Ill.
"It's a growing epidemic that small-town downtowns die when unplanned urban sprawl on the edges of town sucks business and livelihood away from local business owners. That has always made me sad about Appleton. I really hope this new downtown renovation can help enliven the area. The loss of retail space downtown is a problem, because no one goes there anymore for their daily needs, only to buy specialty items or to eat and drink coffee. But the addition of the PAC, as well as new stores and aesthetic improvements, might really help make the downtown a more thriving place. I hope so!" — Clara Muggli, '03, Decorah, Iowa
"The renovations to the downtown have made it a much more attractive place. I think the biggest addition to the life of the average Lawrence student will be the PAC. It not only presents new opportunities for performing, such as the upcoming spring choir concert to be held there but, even better, opportunities to see concerts and productions we didn't have access to in the past." — Rebecca Neubauer, '03, Menasha
"It is a more friendly, active, and attractive place to be. I wish there was a bit more retail, since I'm not a big fan of going to the mall, but I have enjoyed taking advantage of the other establishments. The addition of the PAC is wonderful, although I am concerned about the access Lawrence students will have to the shows for financial reasons. The changes to downtown seem to be a great thing for Appleton, which can in turn only have a positive impact on Lawrence." — Sarah Krile, '03, Grand Rapids, Minn.
"My first impression of Appleton as a freshman was, 'Oh no! This is why it's important to actually visit the schools you apply to!' [The recent changes] definitely do a lot for downtown Appleton. It actually makes it seem as if there's a lot more to the town, even though there isn't. The renovations are essential not only to Appleton but also to Lawrence. Kids going off to college are simply not as interested in a school if they feel there isn't anything much offered off campus." — Steven Tie Shue, '04, Sunrise, Fla.