Like it or not, Burlington is a college town. Home of the University of Vermont, Champlain College, and other schools, close neighbor to even more, this part of Vermont changes it's face entirely at the end of every August.

Today at UVM approximately 2,350 freshmen are moving in. This weekend is orientation for them - orientation for both school and the town. The next week, as even more students poor in, is orientation for the year-round residents, many of whom have used the calm of summer to allow themselves to forget the noise of the extra people.

There's no doubt about it, either; UVM is growing. This batch of first-year students is 20% larger than last year's. To compensate for the growth, this year the school is opening University Heights North Residence Hall (say that three times fast) and the new Gutterson Parking Garage, as well as various other construction and renovation.