Well, I'm reading through the master plan overview (http://www.csuohio.edu/campusmasterplan/) right now, and there are some interesting ideas. As usual, I've got a lot of complaints about CSU's vision, but they're heading in the right direction so I'll try to be positive.

First of all, here's what they've got right:

(1) CSU needs improvement - they seem to have grasped the fundamental fact that CSU's campus is really crummy.

(2) Safety is a priority - Especially in an urban environment! Regardless of whether safety concerns are real or perceived (a common problem in cities), CSU needs to sink a lot of resources into making the place feel safe. See: http://www.urban.org/publications/410402.html
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cvict.htm

(3) Increasing the number of residents around CSU - awesome! Too bad the housing stock around there sucks, but I'm glad someone realizes the problem. Here's my dream plan: two big housing villages immediately north and east of the university: the north one for people who work downtown and go to CSU, the east one for people who work in UCI and go to CSU.

(4) The North-South spines idea - pretty cool. CSU is not directly serviced by the rapid, which is a real shame. Hopefully these vertical spines will improve things.

So anyway, the main issue I'm worried about is CSU's plans for how to use green space. They want to create "connecting landscapes" between campus and not-campus. The problem is that this will only reinforce the separation between the two and DISCOURAGE travel. Urban greenspaces are notorious for destroying urban life, if planned improperly. CSU certainly could use more trees, no doubt. But the essence of an urban university is its proximity and integration with its urban host (see NYU, for example). CSU needs to embrace its location, and (gasp!) consider a non-contiguous campus. That would encourage peripheral activities to locate *throughout* campus, rather than *around* it.