Crunch time is approaching and students will soon face the yearly decision of where to live.
To ease the process, ASMSU, East Lansing and the Community Relations Coalition in East Lansing cooperated in bringing the first annual Housing Fair to the Union Ballroom on Wednesday.
About 1,000 interested students talked to organization representatives, picked up fliers, free items and food. Thirty-three organizations promoted their various specialties by having displays on tables.
With the slogan “Get in the Game! Don’t Commit a Personal Foul with Housing,” the event united aspects of the housing process, including landlords, management companies, police and students.
“I’m ecstatic that we have such an outpour from the city, university and most importantly the students,” said Helen Parks, an intern with the Community Relations Coalition.
“Students get the chance to learn more about housing options and become better community members.”
Parks said organizers have been developing this event since May. The fair cost about $5,000. ASMSU, the undergraduate student government, and East Lansing both paid about $2,000, and the rest of the expenses were covered by companies involved in the fair.
The diverse organizations outlined various options in student housing - on campus, off campus and cooperative housing. Other organizations not as involved in housing also attended, including parking enforcement, fire departments and insurance companies.
Parks said this is the first housing fair at MSU, where such a wide variety of organizations were available under one roof.
She also said prior housing fairs had more of a presentation format and traveled to various dorms on campus.
Psychology junior Steven Frazier, who is searching for a house, said he liked the event because it made a lot of information readily available at one place.
“The event was really informative,” he said. “I really didn’t know where to get this type of information, so it really helped me out.”
Louis Brown, ASMSU student assembly vice chairperson for external affairs, said the event accomplished its goal to inform students so they can make wise housing decisions.
He said he was impressed with the turnout and wants the event to become annual.
“I think it is pretty outstanding,” he said. “This is another example of student leaders providing real impactful events for the MSU students.”
