The town of Fairfield has undergone a revitalization precisely at the same time the university did so internally. Burgeoning enrollment meant and still means opportunities for vendors to grab a piece of our spending money. As you drive through town, it is clear that the business community knows we exist and appreciates us. New stores have popped up on the Post Road and Kings Highway among other places. Whether the town wants to admit it or not we are good for the local economy.
One of the most recent editions is the Starbucks over on Kings Highway. I know that this is an exciting development for many of us here. It also means that town members no longer have to drive to Westport to find one. Just today I went there and it was packed with middle-aged people ordering whip-cream laden beverages.
The simple fact is coffee shops, diners, pizza parlors, and bookstores along with a variety of other merchants enjoy having our patronage and the town in turn enjoys the convenience of having them here. An affluent, sophisticated, young demographic here at the university has helped Fairfield become a college town with an increasing amount of distinct hang-outs and town favorites among students.
College towns are good and bad. They are good because they inject life into sleepy communities and help maintain a robust business environment. However, they are bad in that college means drinking for many. Drinking leads to drunkenness, and that in turn leads to rowdiness which is a big no-no for a wine and cheese community like Fairfield.
Having a freshman urinate on someone’s house isn’t likely to win any friends for him or the University.
Fairfield becoming a college town for us is a real benefit because with a car the campus has almost expanded. We need not rely solely on the bookstore’s inflated prices and Sodexho’s grade C- food. We can actually visit civilization. My point is that we do appreciate Fairfield the town, and we give back to the residents what they give to us.
As Fairfield town members vote to censor our noise, curb our beach behavior, and increasingly try to isolate us to the “island-of-debauchery” that they consider the campus, I would recommend that they look hard at a few things.
As I said before, we drive a significant portion of the economy. In turn, they use our resources such as the RecPlex, the Quick Center, and our Adult education programs. I think its time for this town to grow up. We’re kids who go to college. Do they remember their college experiences? Oh, maybe that’s a question they would prefer not to answer. In short, as “The Who” once wailed so eloquently, “the kids are alright.”
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