Colby students and a residence hall on Main Street can help play a pivotal role in the development of Waterville through civic engagement and increased business patronage.

In my four years at Colby, students’ desire to engage with the Waterville community has only increased. Community service is one of the cornerstones of student involvement at Colby. Hundreds of students participate in Colby Cares About Kids, a mentorship program for students and the local youth; the Colby Volunteer Center, a student organization dedicated to serving the local community; and the Goldfarb Center. The proposed residence hall with a focus on civic engagement would be popular with students and would positively impact the Waterville community.

Students living downtown would also help to invigorate the local economy. Last year, we piloted a shuttle program that ran a bus from campus to downtown and the Waterville Commons over two weekends. This trial period generated such interest that the shuttle now runs every weekend. From Mayflower Hill, students already frequent many local Waterville businesses and the shuttle has helped increased traffic at these locations. A residential complex on Main Street would increase student patronage at nearly all of Waterville’s downtown businesses, with students living in that facility buying groceries from markets, goods from stores, and enjoying meals at restaurants.

As central Maine’s cultural and economic center, Waterville is prime to thrive in the coming years. The students of this great city want to give back as well. A residence hall on Main Street populated with Colby students and focused on civic engagement will facilitate, increase, and expedite progress towards achieving the vision we all share for the future of Waterville.

Michael Loginoff

Colby College

Student body president

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