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Preferred term

town and gown  

Definition

  • The term “town” in the phrase “town and gown” refers to a town, city, or urban area that is home to a college or university—the “gown.” Here, “town” is synonymous with any community where a higher educational institution is located, even if the setting is rural. The nomenclature “gown” can be traced to early colleges and universities in England, where students and faculty traditionally wore academic robes. [Source: Encyclopedia of Community: From the Village to the Virtual World; Town and Gown]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/town_and_gown

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