How Does Having a Major University in the Community Affect You?

Residents at voiced various opinions about the ways in which they feel Stony Brook University affects the community.

Among the ideas expressed: the university seems to bring traffic and congestion, increased stress on local infrastructure and resources, and populations of students seeking off-campus housing.

But it's undeniable that the university is one of the area's largest employers, bringing jobs by the thousands to the Three Village community – and surrounding places such as Port Jefferson, Head of the Harbor, and Smithtown – by hiring faculty and staff members in a wide variety of professions and fields.

Some can also argue that the university also brings excitement to the community, with a variety of arts and entertainment, sports action, opportunities for community members to partake in scholarly interests, and more.

What's more, the university has just been by U.S. News & World Report, the only Long Island school to achieve that distinction.

Now we ask you: What do you think? How does having a major university in our community affect you? Log in to Patch and share your answer as a comment below.