Only a dozen students at Morehead State University showed up for a Modernize Morehead forum with city leaders on Thursday. The Student Government Association organized the event, at which students were able to express their wants and needs with members of the City Council.

“We are trying to continue to build communication and relationships with the community in order to accommodate our students’ interest.” SGA President Brian Gay told The Morehead News.

The main student focus centered on entertainment opportunities and venues. “We have a lot of organizations on campus that could help with the development of the downtown area,” Neil Arnett, a senior Business Information Systems major from Salyersville said. “We need to figure out how to attract diverse businesses and residential properties to the area in order to keep the students in town on the weekends.”

Throughout the forum, residential rental property concerns were discussed. Students are worried about cleanliness, accessibility to campus, and parking.

Students also want a place to party. “There are a lot of students that leave town and go to Lexington or Huntington,” Gay told City Council members. “They are also willing to travel for the atmosphere.” Even with high gas prices, Gay explained, students would rather go somewhere clean and safe that was open later than frequent the drinking establishments in Morehead.

Council members and the their student audience agreed completely on one idea, promoting the untapped talent within the university and local community. A music and art venue that could withstand the dry-spells of summer was high on the priority list.

“The students are a strong economic force in this city,” Councilman Al Baldwin said. “I think a venture capitol fund could be created for student entrepreneurs by the students to start new businesses within the city.”

Although many ideas were explored throughout the forum, no action was taken by the council. “We want the students to feel more welcome to stay in the community on the weekends,” Mayor David Perkins said. “We need to know what’s needed to convince them to spend a little more money.”