Editors’ Note: This is the first article in a multi-part series examining the current relationship between Jonesboro and A-State. This first article features responses from a Herald-sponsored survey sent to all full-time students on the ASU-Jonesboro campus. This semester-long series is a collaboration among the School of Media & Journalism’s student media organizations. 

At Paint the Town Red this past fall, Arkansas State University and the Jonesboro community teamed up to unveil a new street sign design to bring a little bit of A-State into the city of Jonesboro. 

The signs feature the A-State Red Wolf logo next to the street name. These designs have since been added to traffic light posts closest to A-State’s campus.

However, many A-State students think those street signs aren’t enough. 

Students call on Jonesboro to embrace a college town identity

According to a public survey conducted by The Herald, 70% of students indicated they want more A-State and Red Wolves branding throughout Jonesboro. 

Student Government Association (SGA) President Jake Williams, a senior business major from Piggott, Arkansas, said more branding would be very encouraging for students. 

“I’d love to see downtown be more integrated with the university, and so definitely seeing more streetlight posters, more branded Red Wolf, everything A-State,” Williams said. 

Student Activities Board President Lesleigh Sullivan said she would like the city to consider painting red wolf paw prints on crosswalks and allowing A-State students to design and paint electrical boxes and fire hydrants. 

“Maybe even work with the A-State art department to find students to paint those. That will not only brighten up Jonesboro, but I think it will also direct attention to A-State,” Sullivan, a senior criminology major from Little Rock, said. 

In the same survey, 62% of students said they believe there is a divide between the city and the campus. Additionally, 59% of respondents said Jonesboro is more of a ‘town with a college’ than a ‘college town’.

Harrison Herget, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Jonesboro and president of Phi Delta Theta, said that because Jonesboro is in a dry county, it is difficult to create a true college-town atmosphere. 

“I don’t think that Jonesboro has fully embraced Arkansas State and being a college town, and a lot of it is because the city and county are dry,” Herget said. “I think it’s a town with a college, and that really is the main differentiator.”

“We do have a great amount of support, but I think it’s one of those things that Jonesboro as a whole could do a better job of,” Herget said. “There are a lot of University of Arkansas fans, and they just put all their attention toward that and kind of forget that we have such a great campus here, and something that we can support as a community,” Herget said. “Because really, without Arkansas State, Jonesboro isn’t what it is.”

Others agreed with Herget.

“I think the community should offer preference to Red Wolf branding over hog branding since the college (A-State) is in town,” said survey respondent Mia Goodrich.

Other students left comments such as “stop being so Razorback focused” and “have more enthusiasm and support for A-State.” 

One respondent, Lily Dawson, said, “Look at the feeling of other college towns. Jonesboro doesn’t have that feeling. I grew up in a state divided between Michigan and Michigan State, and you could feel the love and loyalty for their school. It felt more like you were a part of a community.” 

Kayla Zarp, a junior health studies major from Chino, California, said local businesses and people in the community do a good job supporting A-State events, but the focus is primarily on athletics. “I know a lot of people in the community are very supportive of A-State athletics. But as far as other stuff on campus, I just feel like the support mainly goes to athletics.”

Sullivan, who works closely with the women’s basketball team for SAB, drew a further distinction between men’s and women’s athletics. 

“It’s kind of heartbreaking that the community will come together for a men’s basketball game but won’t support our women’s athletics and even some of our smaller teams that are very successful,” Sullivan said. 

Blake Goforth said, “We have really high-quality programs, and it’s crazy that we have so many empty seats across our sporting events, music concerts, and theatre performances.”

Another prevalent problem in Jonesboro is walkability.

Delta Zeta President Hailey Glueck, a junior marketing major from St. Louis, said, in other college towns, everyone walks everywhere. 

“They want to go out, they want to go to something fun with their friends, and meet somewhere, they walk there. We walk on campus; that’s our extent. If we want to go somewhere, we’re driving,” Glueck said. 

The nearest restaurants are The Yard, but students must cross Aggie or Marion Berry Parkway, and J-Town’s, where students have to walk along Johnson. Both locations are on very busy streets and are difficult to access on foot.

The recently opened Den Zone at the Pavilion could help address some of these problems.

This sports bar and grill, which features live music and pool tables, is the start of a potential entertainment district, something students like Williams said they hope to see. 

“I hope to see that build and be successful and to expand it to an entertainment district within the next 10 years,” Williams said.

For many students, Jonesboro already feels like home

Despite many students voicing support for a stronger connection to Jonesboro, 41% say the community already supports A-State well. 

“There is plenty of support, and the student discounts and stuff are very nice,” said Will Jones. “I just think that A-State sort of makes Jonesboro what it is.”

Student Karleigh Clements said one of the things she appreciates about Jonesboro is that “it provides a lot of work opportunities and internships pre-graduation.”

Emma Taylor said, “The town definitely does a lot to support A-State. In many stores around Jonesboro, there are Red Wolf logos on windows, and they display college colors and banners.”

Maddow Trail appreciated the support the community provides to student organizations raising funds for St. Jude’s.

Reese Worthington, Miss A-State 2026, said without the community’s support, the Miss A-State pageant wouldn’t be the success that it is. She said she sees people of all ages attending A-State events.

“A lot of people who graduate from A-State stay in Jonesboro, and then I think that stays with you, and therefore helps bridge the gap between A-State and the Jonesboro community,” Worthington said. 

Students said the trolleys do a good job connecting A-State to downtown, allowing them to go where they want without being confined to walking distance.

Downtown Jonesboro is currently the students’ destination of choice. Wesley Davidson, a first-year business admin major from Little Rock and president of Alpha Sigma Phi, said A-State is very integrated with Jonesboro.

“You hear about stuff going on off campus all the time, whether it be student-led or community-led,” Davidson said.

While downtown is many students’ favorite hangout spot, survey respondents agree that more student-friendly options are needed to make it a true destination. They need new reasons to go. They offered a wide variety of suggestions in their survey responses. Future articles in this series will explore many of those recommendations.

Although student opinion on the community’s support is split, there’s enough of a divide to suggest city leaders should keep working toward making Jonesboro a true college town. A-State students are asking for it.

Categories: News