We would all like to think that this community has a positive impact on the thousands of students from around the state -- indeed, around the world -- who come here to further their education at Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University and other institutions.

But we don't give enough thought to the lasting difference these students make on this community.

Among the more tangible effects for the last 15 years has been the houses built by ISU-IWU Collegiate Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

This is the first time the group will be working on two houses in one year. There are 450 students affiliated with the joint chapter. The students not only work on construction of the homes, they also are involved in raising money for the project.

But, while these homes are highly visible contributions to the community, they are not the only contribution made by students.

Of course, the presence of the universities, Heartland Community College and the Normal campus of Lincoln College is an economic benefit to Bloomington-Normal.

Their faculty and staff are involved in community organizations and local government and share their expertise in particular fields.

But it is the students' volunteer work and community service on which we want to focus today.

Many students are involved in charitable fundraising, as individuals and in groups, such as fraternities and sororities. You'll see them collecting money at street corners and having car washes. They'll even raise money from fellow students through various events.

Students also are involved in programs such as mentoring children and helping them with school work.

ISU athletes regularly help community organizations in need of extra manpower - or even muscle power.

Don't let a few bad apples who are rowdy late at night and pay more attention to happy hours than study hours cloud your opinion of all students.

At a Normal Planning Commission hearing last month, an opponent of a proposed apartment building on South Main Street in Normal that developers said would be "aimed at more serious students" said, "I don't even know if 350 serious students go to ISU."

The truth is - although there may be good reasons for rejecting an apartment building at that particular location, saying there aren't 350 "serious students" attending ISU is absurd.

A very significant portion of college students in our community are serious about their studies and serious about giving back to their adopted community.

Just ask the 14 families living in Habitat for Humanity homes built by students or the many others who have benefited from the students' actions.