town and gown

Term describing the relationship between a university and the town in which it is situated.

The presence of a university has often created local conflict. Early British universities originated in small settlements, which eventually came to resent the university's dominance. Conflict occurred as the towns tried to establish an independent existence. An added problem was the presence of a large and sometimes unruly body of students. Newer universities have been sited either in well-established towns or on out-of-town campuses.