I live in a Texas college town. And while students can bring some headaches (where DID you learn how to drive?) they bring many more benefits.

 

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It may sound cynical, but college students have a hugely positive economic impact on the communities they join. From renting houses to buying hamburgers, they are a steady stream of funds to our town.

But more importantly, they bring energy, excitement, and new ideas- and we wouldn't have half the concerts and other entertainment events without them.

But what happens if they stop coming? 

Anecdotally speaking, most of the college kids in my town are from other areas of Texas, but for schools like UT and Rice, losing out-of-state students could kneecap them- and the surrounding communities.

In a recent survey, 28% of students responded that they have excluded schools from their options "solely due to politics, policies or legal situations in the state where the school was located."

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Digging deeper, out of those students, 31% excluded Texas for this reason- more than any other state, according to Chron.

Of course, college students are not a political or ideological monolith- other college students said they excluded schools for being too liberal. They opted not to go to states like New York.

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It appears Texas has an image problem with "liberal" students, but do we need them? Do we even want them?

New people and new ideas are good for any group of people, whether you agree with them or not. Colleges should be a place to meet students who might not look, think, or act like you...

...and everyone's money is green.

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