How to Develop with People in Mind -- The Case of "UI"?

Over this VISTA year, I've developed an affection for all things local as opposed to national or even global. I guess, in a way, "everyone's local is anyone's global," so I don't want you to think I'm being narrow-minded. When it comes to development, this idea is amplified.

I've really begun to resent centralized political and economic strucutres (uh-oh, a Tea-Party rant? From me?) not because I'm anti-government, or because I'm an absolute free-marketer or Ayn Rand enthusiast. I'm none of those. This resentment isn't about just centralized governments, but more about the idea that the economic and political centers are actually "knowledge centers." I submit an example from Indiana as Exhibit A.

I love this state, and even though I'm not a "natural-born" Hoosier, I've gone through the 'naturalization' process of graduating from Indiana University. When I was an undergrad, I was doing a report on the political discussion surrounding the expansion of Interstate 69 through South Central Indiana--Indianapolis to Evansville (and vice versa, believe it or not!). In the course of doing this report, I came across a study on the economic and environmental impacts of I-69--a vital analysis, indeed.

The report talked about the five sections of the route, and that's all fine and dandy. But then I saw something that disturbed me very much.

When talking about Monroe County, home to Bloomington and my alma mater, Indiana University, and the, in their opinion, positive ecomomic impact that this would have, mentioned the following:

"The economy of Monroe County is closely tied to Indianapolis due to the relative proximity and ease of access to Indiana’s largest city. In addition, the University of Indiana (UI) in Bloomington and Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Martin County are both vital to the local economy. UI and Crane NSWC have attracted high-tech industry to the area surrounding Bloomington, while the rest of the area to the west and south of Bloomington is dominated by agriculture."

Other than the fact they mentioned 'ease of access,' forgetting the perennial construction zone that is Route 37, here's the bigger problem:

There is not a "University of Indiana," and thus, no "UI" (at least in this state).

When I read this, I was a bit on the shocked side. Not that they had messed with my school, but that this was PRINTED. This was supposed to help make the case for building the I-69 expansion! They go on to boast about "UI's" presence as a local knowledge base and about the "eclectic culture" of Bloomington that is a product of "UI." While those things are true about IU, they can't be true about "UI," because it DOESN'T EXIST.


View Larger Map
"A" is Indiana University at Bloomington. "B" is the University of Indiana. Notice it's non-existence.

To make matters worse, this is a report done by (you can look them up yourselves--I don't want to get on the "to-be-sued" side of any law firm) an Indianapolis-based law firm--you know, in the state of Indiana. Indianapolis and Bloomington are separated by only 45 minutes, and there's a gigantic campus in Indianapolis, IUPUI (not UIUPI or some algorithm thereof). The fact that this firm didn't even both to get it right--and KEPT SAYING IT--is a bit mind-boggling.

NOW--I know I may be harping on a 'moot' point, but I think it still displays this kind of idea. Policy makers, lawyers, advocates, everyone--needs to be in touch with the local when doing their work. SURE, if may take more effort, but that's just part of the role and the job that you're paid to do! As a result of this egregious yet laughable error, people can write them off as out of touch--even if the rest of their analysis was brilliant (which, once again, you can decide for yourself).

Errors like this--and not understanding local elements in general--just gives enemies to your goals and aspirations. I could have become a supporter of their ideas (you decide for yourself), but I have to question the commitment to an open, honest, and dilligent process by a group that allowed such an error to be printed (and still not fixed so many years later--this is from 2006!)

In our office, we use the saying "local pains are best healed by local hands." In development, the same thing has to be true--you need to actually talk to people and ensure that your information is good--or else look like a fool.

The best policies are bottom up!