As we go forward in 2012 residents of Corvallis will ultimately need to accept the fact that Oregon State University will continue to grow in student population unabated. The Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Corvallis and Oregon State University will function as, well as best as any similar commission functions. Oregon State University, President Ed Ray, must be congratulated for the superior public relations campaign that has been ongoing for the past few weeks. Having attended the "State of the University" address given by President Ed Ray last week one must conclude that Oregon State's contribution of $2.06 billion dollars to the Oregon economy will trump any attempt by the Citizens of Corvallis to slow growth. In fact during his address President Ray coopted the idea of slowing growth. He went on record that he would like to "slow the pace of growth." It is difficult to believe that all of this "growth" at Oregon State has not happened without the, at the very least, tacit approval of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. This level of change, student growth, at Oregon State would not happen without the knowledge & concurrence of those in Salem. Drip by drip there are news releases advising what OSU is currently doing to create jobs or assist in technology, positive of course for Corvallis. One cannot find any reasonable argument that would be sucessful in countering this "PR" effort. Therefore, the students will continue to come to Corvallis. At most the City/University commission will hopefully act on ancillary issues like noise, parking, zoning. One can hold out hope that it will not take a period of years and a million dollars to achieve these tepid at best results. What will the ultimate outcome be for Corvallis? The possibilities are not altogether confidence building. Housing is a concern, so is the drop in school census in 509J. To be continued.......
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