ASU students need to make their own opportunities in downtown Phoenix

I was a bit disappointed to hear the students at ASU Downtown Phoenix criticizing the school for the lack of social options downtown. Let me first say that I’ve lived in other downtowns in bigger cities that had a lot more going for them, so I am not unaware of the fact that, relative to other cities, downtown Phoenix is pretty limited in terms of what’s available socially. Still, the students quoted in this article came off as whiny and kind of spoiled.

First, there are cool things to do downtown at night. Beyond the art and sports offerings, there are a lot of fun, fairly inexpensive places that stay open late that are within walking distance of the ASU dorm: Fate (open until midnight during the week and 3 a.m. on weekends); Seamus McCaffrey’s (open until 2 a.m. every night, I believe); Carly’s (open until midnight); Cibo (open until 10 p.m.); Portland’s (open until 10 p.m.); Majerle’s (open until 2 a.m.); and now The Roosevelt (open until 2 a.m.). A majority of the places on that list are restaurants that are open to those under 21.

Second, and more importantly, I had hoped that ASU downtown would attract a different type of student resident—leaders who realized that they were urban pioneers who would help create a social life where one didn’t already exist. There’s an old, run-down dive called the Newsroom right near the ASU dorm. Aren’t there five or ten ASU students who could turn that place into “the” dive bar for students on Thursday nights, for instance? Instead of acting like leaders and making their own opportunities, however, the students quoted are followers who seem to believe ASU is supposed to provide those kinds of opportunities for them. Too bad.