Embracing the ‘College Town’ atmosphere

Kaity Holtman

Last Thursday began the mass move-in of college freshmen and the return of upperclassmen.

Students and parents took over campus, as well as Maryville’s streets and stores.

And at first I found myself a little grouchy about it.

I had to make a trip to Walmart over my lunch on Thursday, the official move-in day.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I thought, “oh no, what was I thinking?”

And then I immediately had another thought, “don’t be a part of the problem; be a part of the solution.”

And as I walked around the store, I tried to make an effort to be extra friendly and welcoming to people, especially those I could tell were there buying things for their college dorms or those who were obviously new to town.

I’ve heard much discussion lately about Maryville’s identity.

Are we a college town?

Are we fighting being a college town?

Are Maryville and the university disconnected from one another?

Is it obvious driving through Maryville that there is a stellar university right here in town?

Can we embrace the university better? Do we want to?

Does the university embrace Maryville the way citizens think it should?

I’ve heard this conversation spin around in circles over and over again.

Now, I did not go to college here, and I’m not from here. Heck, I don’t even live in the city limits now. So I guess take my opinion as just an opinion you either want to ponder on or totally ignore. That’s your prerogative. But here’s the opinion I’ve formed on it.

I went to college in Columbia, Missouri, which is undoubtedly a college town.

I can honestly say I never felt as if that city did not embrace the fact they were built around the University of Missouri.

Black and gold everywhere I looked, the people of Columbia saturated that town with Mizzou pride.

Now, I’m sure there were people who didn’t support the university, and I’m sure there were people who avoided popular spots in town because of those “dang college students.”

As an out-of-towner in Maryville, it can be easy to spot the divide between Maryvillians and Northwest.

Everyone is behind the football team, but I don’t always get that “bleed green and white” feeling that I think should be super obvious.

I get that not everyone went to Northwest, but the university deserves some credit for helping make this community viable in a time when rural America’s population is having a hard time maintaining.

The “town and gown” relationship between university and city leaders is strong, but it’s up to the rest of us to follow suit.

It should be obvious in how you dress, in how you decorate your homes and businesses, in however you show pride.

You can growl that the town is now full of a bunch of 18 year olds who don’t know how to get around Maryville.

Or you can welcome them, have conversations with them, and let them know you’re glad that they’re in our community.

Because they’re spending money in our businesses – restaurants, stores, gas stations, etc. – paying our sales tax, and most definitely playing a role in making our community viable.

And the payoff for this mindset could be huge – they might actually stick around our community and play a role in some huge successes down the road.

The memories I have of Columbia are some that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I didn’t pay attention to the politics going on within Columbia. I just knew that there was this culture, this atmosphere, that was all about my Missouri Tigers.

That’s what the students want here. And while the partnerships those city and university leaders are creating is great, the students need to see it in people, not just in the leaders.

That Bearcat culture doesn’t just come from the top, it has to be throughout. It has to be everywhere.

Like I said, I’m not a Bearcat by alma mater. But I’m starting to feel like one because I’m learning to embrace the culture of it all. If nothing else, I’m proud to see the partnerships forming, and I want to play a role in it all.

So yes, the university needs to embrace Maryville more. And Maryville needs to embrace the university more.

Buy a green shirt.

Hang a green flag.

Start a conversation: ask a student where they’re from and why they chose Maryville.

Use the phrase “college town” until you believe it.

Kaity Holtman is the Agriculture Editor for the Maryville Daily Forum.