town-gown

town-gown

Relating to the two coexisting communities of a university town, i.e., the university (primarily the students) and the residents of the town where it is located, used especially in reference to tensions between the two. "Gown" is a reference to the traditional academic gown once worn by university students, now typically reserved for graduation ceremonies. The city council decided to establish a collaborative committee dedicated to helping resolve such town-gown disputes. Town-gown relations have continued to sour as residents' complaints about noise and congestion within the town have increased.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

town-gown

Relations between a college and the municipality in which it is located. Students at British universities and boarding schools were fond of playing pranks on the inhabitants of the cities and towns where the schools were. However, not all the “pranks” were pranks: drunken carousing, theft, arson, and other crimes were done under the guise of boyish high spirits. These uneasy relations between town and “gown” (students wore academic robes, as in “cap and gown”) happened in this country too, and there are still times when a mayor and a college dean meet to try and smooth ruffled feathers.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • town and gown
  • town-and-gown
  • A-town
  • get out of town
  • Get out of town!
  • all around town
  • go to town on (something)
  • main street
  • skip town
  • out of town
References in periodicals archive
By partnering with local vendors for campus needs and by offering vocational learning opportunities for community members, institutions are strengthening town-gown relations organically.
'Micro' hiring for macroeconomic impact
At the same time, the fractious town-gown divides of 20 years ago have given way to a new spirit of city-university cooperation.
Carbondale takes the Strip for Halloween
1 in the nation for "Town-Gown Relations," according to the Princeton Review.
People this Week: New hires, promotions, awards
We couldn't do it ourselves, and the city couldn't do it on its own, so we think it is an interesting town-gown relationship."
CHEERS! ... to keeping innovation jobs in Mississippi: MSU incubates innovative student businesses at CEO
Controversial plans for a huge surge in student numbers in an already crowded city centre threatens to deepen the town-gown divide.
Will the town-gown divide grow if 6,000 extra students arrive in Durham? Neighbours reaching out to some students in a bid to make repairs over the resident/student divide; Neighbours reaching out to some students in a bid to make repairs over the resident/student divide
INHIS2016BOOK The Optimal Town-Gown Marriage: Taking Campus-Community Outreach and Engagement to the Next Level, Stephen Gavazzi, Ph.D., leverages his scholarly background in marriage and family therapy to draw parallels between campus-community relationships and marriages.
The Optimal Town-Gown Marriage: Taking Campus-Community Outreach and Engagement to the Next Level
Gamble spoke of the classic town-gown dynamic she saw in her upbringing.
Community-engaged research deemed worthwhile
Angel said conversations about town-gown relations often turn to the question of how a school is financially supporting the local community.
College, school officials see positive relationship with city
Many university and public officials talked about joint town-gown best practices in their respective communities from throughout Europe.
"Town-Gown" Relations in Europe
A handful of us took on the project of assembling a history of the first century of Eugene's oldest town-gown organization.
Name tags erode meaningful connections
From rural development to town-gown relationships, participants were able to choose to between topic areas and city type to find the resources and experienced peer advice to help address their unique challenges.
NLC member councils meet on pressing issues for cities at Congressional City Conference
Implementing effective intervention strategies around off-campus parties will: (1) Reduce the overall number of student parties; (2) Reduce underage and excessive drinking; (3) Limit the availability of alcohol to minors; (4) Decrease alcohol-related problems for students and residents; and (5) Improve town-gown relations.
College Party Intervention Checklist
Potential "town-gown" disputes are addressed proactively and minimized.
State pathology societies and the future of pathology
That is a saying I have always thought very relevant to town-gown relations.
Western, community collaborate in many ways