Where is Lawrence headed?

What will Lawrence be like five or 10 years from now?

Will Lawrence become an even finer community, a larger city, an attractive place for young people to make their homes? Will new industry be locating within the city? Will the city’s boundaries have been expanded? Will the South Lawrence Trafficway be in operation? What will downtown Lawrence look like?

Will Lawrence have taken advantage of the bioscience movement with new science-related firms and entrepreneurial ventures sprouting up in the city? What will city government be like? Will it be better or worse than it is today or just about the same? How about the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and its efforts to improve the business/industrial climate of Lawrence?

What’s likely to happen to Kansas University over the next five to 10 years, and how will this impact Lawrence? What will its academic, research position be within the Big 12 Conference? Will the school have advanced or declined, as has been the case with several schools within the university, in comparison with other Big 12 universities? Will KU’s research and excellence in areas such as pharmacy help attract high-profile and clean research-based companies offering well-paying, attractive jobs for young Kansans, KU students university faculty members?

What will be the role, power and influence of the Kansas Board of Regents and its mission of overseeing the six state-aided universities? The level of effectiveness of this body will play a significant role in KU’s future and, in turn, will have a direct impact on the growth and development of Lawrence. Will future governors pay more attention to appointing individuals with influence and vision rather than using appointments as a means to pay off political IOU’s? Will they demand better performance from each of the institutions?

There are many questions Lawrence residents should be asking about the future of their city and the university. Nothing is guaranteed!

For years, this writer has suggested complacency is the city’s greatest enemy or weakness, and the same could be said about the university. Just because Lawrence has enjoyed four or five decades of steady sound growth is no guarantee that will always be the case. For years, Lawrence has been envied by those living in other parts of the state. It appears Lawrence has become a bit too cocky or lazy. Recent news reports have told of the city’s population either declining or barely holding even with earlier totals. It is reported there is a high percentage of vacant homes and vacant downtown storefronts.

Likewise, KU has not been able to advance in the annual U.S. News and World Report survey and analysis of the academic excellence of the country’s major colleges and universities. The school’s ranking has dropped from what it was 10 years ago, and several schools within the university have slipped significantly. Some will say these rankings are not that important and that the school is doing just fine, while others say national media rankings have great significance. The public does pay attention to the rankings even if some in the academic community play down the reports.

Lawrence has a new city manager, and KU has a new provost. Both men, Dave Corliss and Richard Lariviere, have the opportunity to make major impacts in their positions. How they do will affect the entire city, on and off the campus.

Will the Lawrence City Commission allow Corliss to inject new ideas, new directions and new vision into City Hall, or do present city commissioners look to him merely as a “yes” man who will be expected to control the city’s growth or impose their version of “smart growth” on the community?

Why hasn’t the city moved ahead on getting involved with the statewide, nationwide bioscience efforts? Why hasn’t the city or Chamber of Commerce put in a bid with the Kansas Bioscience Authority for partial funding for “wet lab” space as have Manhattan, Kansas City, Kan., Olathe and probably Wichita? What is holding Lawrence back in this effort? Is the Chamber of Commerce asleep or are some at KU trying to hold the city back on this project so it could be included in a possible new multimillion-dollar pharmacy building at KU? Do KU officials want total control of wet labs rather than having any off-campus facilities they would have to share?

The school’s new provost can play a major role in the development of the university over the next five to 10 years. The big question is how much authority will he have, how many changes will he want to make and how long will he be at KU?

Lariviere came within a hair of being named president of the University of Texas. It is reported he would like to be a chancellor or president at some top-flight university, but he is in his mid-50s and, if he is to make such a move, it probably would need to be within the next three to five years.

How will he deal with changes he would like to make at KU? Some of the probable actions could be major and bold, likely to cause some waves. If he causes waves, steps on toes and is looked upon as a troublemaker, does that make him more or less attractive to officials at other schools looking for a smart, visionary and enthusiastic leader? What if he doesn’t make badly needed changes?

Both Lawrence and KU seem to be stuck in neutral with not much enthusiasm, aggressiveness or forward motion.

The challenges, as well as the opportunities, are many. Are there individuals in Lawrence or at KU who can inspire and lead? Or will both Lawrence and KU be looked upon as places where there is a lot of talk, cockiness and arrogance but little positive action or record of accomplishment?

Both Lawrence and KU enjoy proud pasts with outstanding records. Both have many valuable assets.

But where will they be five or 10 years from now? The potential for great success is in place, but will the city and university have the intelligence, vision and courage to do what is necessary to capitalize on these opportunities?