<p>This weekend is the end of summer in my little town. This weekend the first wave of students move into the dorms. The highway and roads will be snarled, and the lines at Target, BB&B and Best Buy will become endless. The day when 30,000 students move to our town of 30,000 full-time residents transforms the place from a sleepy NE village to a bustling, energetic and hip place to hang out. The streets become filled with a buzz of contagious anticipation and excitement, the coffee shops and pizza parlors fill with happy chatter, it is great to be part of the energy even if its harder to find a parking spot downtown. </p>
<p>The flip side is that it is also the start to the troubles, the raucous off-campus outdoor parties, the crushed beer cans thrown on to the lawn, vandalism, late-night noise, the piles of move-in trash outside rental houses. All of these things are worse at the beginning of the year, before the snow falls, and before students have too much work to party all the time. Please remind your student to be respectful, that their college bubble is also my familys hometown!</p>
<p>Most of us choose to live here because of the special energy of an academic community. Students help support the restaurants, movies, and music and other acts that would probably never stop here if it was just us townies. Students keep us connected to so much of the new in the world, and break-up mundane routines with their joy and optimism. If your child is coming to a college town like mine, encourage them to explore and engage with the locals. We love it!</p>
<p>Great post - and I don’t think it matters how large or small the town. All these kids need to remember that they have a wonderful opportunity in front of them, not to be taken lightly or ruined with foolish choices.</p>
<p>I love seeing all the dorm supplies stacked up at Target!
It makes me think about what a great adventure is waiting for all of the kids heading to school for the first time.</p>
<p>I grew up in a town/gown environment (both parents were associated with a state university) and really appreciate the experience. We did have a fraternity on the corner, with noisy parties etc., but in general it wasn’t too intrusive. One year they had their pledges shovel the sidewalks around the entire block.</p>
<p>The opportunities and ambiance of living in a university town were great. Our high school had excellent student teachers and and over 90% college bound. I took violin lessons on campus (riding my bike there on the campus paths). I got my first job (punching Fortran cards) through my mother. My brother’s bar mitzvah was in the campus chapel with embedded with stones from famous buildings around the world. I got to swim at the Olympic-sized pool in the summer. We took advantage of the world-class performers that came to campus.</p>
<p>The campus was so large and distinct from the town that I don’t recall many problems spilling over. Of course the town was dry until 1968 so the bars were all fairly far away.</p>
<p>What I remember most is how the college students changed from adults to peers to children. My parents moved away a long time ago so haven’t been back in ages.</p>