The explosion at the Kleen power plant in Middletown on Sunday rocked the Wesleyan community. The tragic event resulted in 26 injuries and five casualties, and has left many wondering how we can help the Middletown community during this trying time. But it is not simply the Middletown community: it is our community. The event was a jolting reminder that the University is undeniably a part of Middletown, and thus, has an obligation to help in any way it can.
We commend the speed and resourcefulness with which members of campus have organized to better understand the situation, and how we can provide aid to those who need it. A meeting held last night in Usdan outlined ways in which we can do just that, including assisting the Middletown chapter of the Red Cross. We anticipate committed efforts on part of students, faculty, and others to find ways in which the University can assist the Middletown community during the aftermath.
However, beyond providing immediate aid, is it vital for the campus community to reflect on this tragedy and reevaluate our relationship with the city in which we live. Many students were unaware of where the Kleen power plant was located, or that it even existed; some incorrectly assumed the explosion took place at the Physical Plant station on campus. For students, parents, and alumni, “explosion in Middletown” seemed all too synonymous with “explosion at Wesleyan.” Middletown extends far beyond the stores and restaurants within a 10 minute drive of campus, yet this is all too often the extent of students’ conceptions of the city that is their home, in some form, for four years—a city that Wesleyan does not define, but is only one part of.
If we truly wish to stand in solidarity with Middletown, as we have begun to, let us also ensure that future interactions with our city are not centered merely around issues that affect campus directly, but also around those that affect both the University and Middletown at large. This is an invaluable time to prove that Wesleyan is an important member of the Middletown community; that we have a large stake in aiding Middletown’s full recovery; and above all, to walk away from this tragedy committed to turning our stilted interactions with our community into a mutually supportive relationship.
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