The relationship between Mississippi State University and the city of Starkville is essential to the success of both, though at times that seems to be forgotten.
For much of their history, the two entities were much like neighbors who didn’t talk very often.
That has changed in recent years, and it is a testament to the leaders of both the school and the city.
The benefits of working together are tangible. For proof, one only needs to look to The Mill at MSU and the development it has spawned.
Both the university and the city have experienced robust growth over the past decade or so. That is not a coincidence.
That is why we are perplexed that the MSU Student Association would consider moving Bulldog Bash, a popular concert and block party, to a campus location.
Since its inception, Bulldog Bash has been a wildly successful city-university collaboration — a party in the city on the night before a major Southeastern Conference football game — and has been widely perceived as an instance where both the city and university benefit through a shared interest.
While there is no doubt that the growth in the Cotton District, the event’s well-established venue, may require some adjustments, any thought of leaving the city represents a cure worse than the illness.
Moving the event out of the city and onto campus is demonstrably wrong, we believe.
First, a campus venue essentially eliminates or greatly reduces economic impact. Cotton District restaurant and bar owners say Bulldog Bash is their biggest revenue-producing night of the year. Moving the event to campus literally takes away customers from their doorsteps.
It should be noted that MSUSA receives no small amount of funding from those very businesses it would abandon. Last summer, aldermen appropriated to MSUSA more than $300,000, revenue generated by the city’s 2-percent restaurant tax.
Much of that money is used to stage Bulldog Bash.
The expression “biting the hand that feeds you” comes to mind.
As it is, Bulldog Bash is a taxpayer-subsidized event. The students who serve within MSUSA would do well to remember that.
Out here in the real world, that matters.
Many business owners have shown a willingness to listen to complaints and offer solutions to address MSUSA’s concerns.
Curt Crissey, the founder of Rosey Baby’s and owner of convenience stores across Starkville, offered his Cotton District business’ parking space for Bulldog Bash spillover in an attempt to answer logistical concerns and keep the event in the city.
This solution can work for both the city and university, and we urge MSUSA to act in good faith by giving careful consideration to this and other options that will allow the event to stay downtown.
Granted, there may be situations where the interests of the university and those of the city do not align.
This is not one of them.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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