Nearly 10,000 people enjoyed the food, fun and entertainment of First Cellular’s Main Street Pig Out last weekend. Now it is time for the University to make good on its intentions to become more involved in community events.

In the eyes of the Pig Out’s organizers, the festival was a complete success. In fact, the turnout was so good it surprised them.

In July, SIUC administrators said they would not sponsor the Pig Out because of uneasiness from past events (the Halloween riots). They did say, however, that if the event was successful, they would consider future involvement. Well, all did go well and now it is time to do something.

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The city and the student body came together and had a good time without problems, and Carbondale finally organized its own festival. It is good to see the city create something that could become an annual event both the residents and students can anticipate each year.

With help from the University, the Pig Out could develop into a much bigger event, like the Murphysboro Apple Festival or the Marion Oktoberfest. Events like this are good ways to increase city revenue, tourism and help improve the city’s image.

Many students volunteered time and effort to helping the festival, and the administration should be willing to join in. If the administration does not become involved in the future, how can the University truly want to improve city relations?

The University is constantly concerned with student recruitment and retention. But the apprehensiveness of the administrators to support such a festival does not seem to be the answer to keeping students in Carbondale.

Although the University did allow the Pig Out to use some of the campus parking lots, the administration needs to take a more active role in supporting and sponsoring events that benefit the students as well as the city.

If the Pig Out, or a similar festival, were to become a yearly tradition, it could become an attractive feature to the school. People outside of Carbondale could begin to focus on the new positive relationship between the city and University, and move beyond past problems.

Now that the festival is over, the University should take some initiative and start working with the city soon to improve relations and give Carbondale the opportunity to enjoy a festival every year.

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