If the University doesn't reopen this fall, Athens as a community will get a unique opportunity to assess the financial impact of the University on everyone in town. Some jobs will be unaffected, while other will be directly affected, while still others who don't think the University affects them, will be indirectly affected. Athens is a beautiful town, but it is very unlike the many dying small towns in America, and partly that has to be traced to the financial impact the University makes on the entire community.
With all due respect, how do you know how the community of Athens feels? As Mr Swank and myself have recently had to defend to other posters, NO one of any cognitive ability thinks that the University is NOT the number one draw and impact in this community.
It’s the rest of the country and corporate world who have just now figured that out. 20 years ago Athens did not have 1 sit down casual restaurant of a national chain, did not have any nationally branded hotels, no WalMart, no Lowe’s. So trust me the local community is very well aware of what the University means to this town and community.
It was everyone else who failed to realize the power of the University, leaving locals and visitors alike to travel 45 min to eat at a chain restaurant, shop at a big box retailer, purchase appliances, etc. after that 1st one, it’s been steady growth, because they finally learned that the small college town is not the normal demographics. But alas, keep believing that people in Athens hates the University. It’s
Ike the old arguments that people used to make that no locals attend games 🤦🏼♂️
Last Edited: 5/23/2020 4:19:22 PM by BillyTheCat