University should embrace history

To the editor:

As a graduate of the historic preservation program of Southeast Missouri State University, I support the progress and growth my alma matter is undergoing. However, the university has the chance to become a community leader through the use of one of our most important and effective tools for economic revitalization and community development: historic preservation and adaptive re-use of existing assets. Instead of razing old buildings to provide parking spaces, the university should capitalize on these irreplaceable assets.

Buildings are key resources to understanding our country's past. A building can give significant insight into the evolution of people. Historic buildings are not just bricks and mortar but the representation of our country's architecture throughout time. When a building is razed, we lose a portion of our history.

As a historic preservationist, it is very inspiring to live in a town that has key role models in historic preservation. Cape Girardeau has long been a strong supporter of historic preservation and adaptive re-use. Old Town Cape actively works on a daily basis to revitalize the historic downtown, where Cape Girardeau was born. The historic preservation program at Southeast has long been involved with the community, documenting buildings and writing national register nominations.

Southeast Missouri State University has the opportunity to become a role model in the Cape Girardeau community and our nation by embracing the important tool of historic preservation and integrating its historic buildings into its education facilities and finding some other adaptive re-use.

TERRI FOLEY, Historic Preservationist, Cape Girardeau