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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Tight Economy Strains Town-Gown Relations

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(Newser) – The poor economy has put a crimp in some universities' expansion plans and soured the relationship between others and the surrounding communities, the New York Times reports. For instance, Harvard’s planned $1 billion expansion into a Boston neighborhood is in limbo, leaving a 5-acre construction pit and vacant buildings. “We feel like we’ve been betrayed and taken advantage of,” a resident said.

“Instead of Harvard bringing in jobs and excitement and vibrancy, we are sliding backwards.” Elsewhere, cash-strapped cities are looking to colleges and even students for a cash infusion. Providence has even proposed charging students a $150-per-semester “municipal impact fee” to close a budget gap. The academics aren’t having it. “We provide a huge amount to the local economy throughout the year and to neglect that is not right,” one said.

Students walk through the Harvard Law School quad in Cambridge, Mass.
Students walk through the Harvard Law School quad in Cambridge, Mass.   (AP Photo)
The campus of Brown University late in the afternoon in Providence, RI.
The campus of Brown University late in the afternoon in Providence, RI.   (AP Photo)
Graduates.
Graduates.   (AP Photo)
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At a time when our president is asking everyone to look in a collective way at our communities, there’s value in asking young people to make a contribution to the collective well-being of the city they are a part of. - Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline said.

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AnnieChrist
May 9, 09 1:01 PM CDT
Here's an idea for these cash strapped towns: let the religious establishments start paying their share of property taxes and impact fees. They build gazillion dollar edifices with all kinds of accouterments like $5,000 stained glass windows, etc, supposedly for "the glory of god" and do very little else to enhance their communities well being. There is no reason they should be exempt from taxes. Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
May 9, 09 1:24 PM CDT
In fact, the pseudo-religious ceremonies you see at graduations these days put the churches to shame... talk about excess and self-worship. Reply
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wwwonderer
May 11, 09 11:35 AM CDT
Maybe we should look at the value of all the ceremonies in our society. I would be willing to bet 80% of those in church are there for the choir/praise dancers/entertainment AND/OR the ceremenoies/pagentry/social networking. It would seem odd that this all-powerful being needs people to be in a specific physical location to spread messages. My guess is the only reason one REALLY needs to be in church is to make sure that collection plate does not pas anyone up.
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