In response to the recent column “Private colleges are economic engines for Maine” (July 25), I could easily argue that small, simply for the sake of small, is reason to leave well enough alone.

When I chose Colby, the very fact of its smallness was a huge factor in my decision, having come from a high school class of over 900. I could have gone to Boston University or UMass, but the overwhelming sizes of their campus and student populations was quite daunting to me.

The authors would have us believe that simply increasing enrollment at Maine’s prestigious private colleges would be a huge contribution to Maine’s economic success and just higher numbers alone would entice more graduates to stay here. Many do, but the decision to remain in Maine to live and work is multi-faceted. While providing us with a plethora of statistical evidence of payroll, benefits, and other economic contributions of these colleges, they failed to mention the practical disadvantages of increasing class size. Nor do they provide us with any realistic estimate of how many more students would be needed to make the impact they predict.

Where are they going to live? Pre-pandemic, upper-class students had the option of living off campus. While this is currently not allowed, I would suggest that the future of off-campus living in Waterville is in peril regardless of COVID restrictions.

“Legacy” Colby apartments — the ones passed down from graduates to eager underclassmen — have now become badly needed market rate housing for area residents. When I sold my house a couple of years ago and had not yet found the right new place to live, I looked for an apartment. Let me say that Colby parents are not likely to drop off their kid at some of the places I looked at. And while Colby’s commitment to the community is epic, they do not have bottomless pockets and the likelihood of the college resurrecting the seriously aged housing stock here is probably unlikely.

Colby has invested millions of dollars in the community and on the campus, but even the new downtown dorm and the lovely hotel (serving as de facto dorm space and now facing down the second academic year without having welcomed one guest) have not attracted the eclectic retail and artistic renaissance that was hoped. We aren’t Kennebunkport yet. I dare say that the only benefit to added student population would be to the few additional UPS and FedEx drivers delivering the added online packages.

I recall that during the pandemic, many people sought refuge in their seasonal homes, putting undue stress on resources and supplies in these small towns. More students would put added pressure on restaurants, which are already struggling to hire and retain skilled help-particularly cooks, servers and pizza delivery drivers. More students, more staff, more faculty, more cars, more traffic, no parking.

More students require more faculty and the authors suggest that this would contribute to the economy here. In truth, many professors live elsewhere and commute to Waterville or teach online. Will larger classes diminish the small college learning experience? I would say emphatically, yes, and would argue that the days of student dinners at faculty homes sadly are long gone.

Colby will continue to welcome talented students from all over the world, in numbers that make sense for the infrastructure of the college and the surrounding areas. Ongoing Campus improvements will continue to enhance Colby’s already world-class education experience.

These past few years have given rise to a chorus of “Colby is taking over everything” by those who believe the college should instead support any number of other worthy causes. In truth, the mission of college is to educate. If the neighboring economy is enhanced in this endeavor, it’s a bonus.

Cathy Taylor is a resident of Waterville.