On November 17, the GSD Urban Planning department hosted the annual fall get together with the planning programs of MIT, Tufts, and UMass Amherst. The event featured a lecture by retired professor Susan Fainstein (senior research fellow) entitled “The Argument for Just Outcomes.”
Melissa Jones (MUP ’13) said of the lecture, “Professor Fainstein presented some of the important arguments and case studies from her recent book, The Just City. She argued that we can create cities that are more just with new planning processes and outcomes focused on democracy, diversity, and equity. She contrasted NYC planning processes and outcomes with those of Amsterdam and Singapore, ultimately arguing that Americans could benefit by making justice a governing principle in our planning and development.”
Students and faculty from the four accredited planning programs gathered after the lecture for an informal networking reception. Zoe Merideth (MUP ’13) said, “The lecture and reception was a great opportunity to meet people from other schools and learn about their interests.”
The GSD Department of Urban Planning and Design, Harvard Urban Planning Organization, and APA-Massachusetts sponsored the event.