Students have more to worry about than just cooking when they choose to live in off-campus rental houses.

Relations between permanent residents and student tenants is an important part of the East Lansing community, Mayor Pro Tem Beth Schwarze said.

“They’re a vital part of the community,” Schwarze said about students. “In fact, a lot of people choose to live in Bailey or Central (neighborhoods) because there are students that live there - it keeps the neighborhood kind of young, it keeps it vibrant and there’s a good rapport with permanent residents and students.”

Both students and residents agree that mixed communities close to campus are great places to live.

“I wanted to be in a place that was kind of half students, half not students,” said Allen Kannapell, a Bailey resident and campus minister. He said being close to students and being able to interact with them was a priority.

Students also said they feel the positive effects of living side by side with the permanent residents.

“They love it, they enjoy students,” general management junior Duke Wheeler said. “They like how the neighborhoods are alive.”

Despite good relations, students sometimes have conflicts with permanent residents.

Tom Coleman, of Division Street, has had problems dealing with students. He said in the past, he has been threatened for telling students to turn their music down.

“Beyond the noise, what bothers me is the inconsiderate behavior most people have,” he said. “That’s what’s annoying sometimes, the belligerent behavior.”

Coleman said he doesn’t think the renters are the problem, but that they attract students to the neighborhoods late at night.

Despite some inconveniences, he said living in Bailey neighborhood has been a positive experience.

Renters also have to think about keeping up with city codes and regulations.

“Usually for the first month or so we issue a lot of warnings and essentially they’re educational tools,” said Rob Linton, East Lansing Parking and Code Enforcement supervisor. “We’re not out to issue tickets. It’s after repeated warnings on some things that, well, it isn’t working by warnings - we’re going to have to take the next step.”

Linton said he encourages P.A.C.E. officers to get out of their vehicles and communicate with people.

Some things first-time renters should keep in mind is that living in a house with friends does not mean they can take a break from community standards, Schwarze said. Students often don’t think about how their actions affect those around them.

“Their parents would have an absolute conniption if anything like that happened at their house at home because their neighbors would go nuts,” she said.

Coleman said students may not realize what they do could bother those around them.

“They think more of themselves than their community around them,” he said.

Still, manyt permanent residents don’t have a hard time dealing with these inconveniences when they arise.

Kannapell said he has only been bothered a few times by noise, and students have quieted down when he asked them.

“All we expect as permanent residents is the same consideration that they give their neighbors anywhere else they’ve been,” Schwarze said.

“We have to remember that the fact that the university students are here and they’re moving into a neighborhood says that our university is pretty viable and people are still being attracted here,” East Lansing Public Schools Superintendent Tom Giblin said.

Students may positively affect the community in more ways than they realize, he said.

“I’ve seen so many good things happen in our schools because of university students,” Giblin said. “This would not be the same school district if the university were not here.”

Wheeler said residents don’t hesitate to ask for help with chores like shoveling or taking out the trash.

Students can be proactive to avoid conflicts by becoming involved in their communities. Most neighborhoods have activities planned to meet new residents.

“They have events and meetings scheduled that have very low student turnout,” Linton said.

Marketing senior Cara Sommerfield said she has not been approached by any residents concerning community events.

Getting in touch with neighbors, community police and code enforcement officers will assure a smooth transition to off-campus living, she said.