College is one of the major frontiers in life, and often it's the peers that students live and learn with during this time that make lasting impressions on their lives. n A relationship with a roommate can turn into a rewarding friendship throughout adulthood if it starts out on the right foot. n Not all roommates are good ones, though. n Any number of things can cause a living arrangement to go sour, but with a little effort, all but the most irreconcilable people can at least learn to tolerate each other.

Marketing junior Nicole Erickson and interior design junior Allison Clark have experienced few problems. They've known each other since freshman year and are now living together with two other people in a rental house in East Lansing's Bailey neighborhood. Erickson credits good communication for their amiable relationship.

"We haven't had a really big fight - we pretty much get along," she said. "No matter who you live with, there'll be problems, so you have to chill out. If something bothers you, let people know."

The types of problems roommates encounter depend on their individual needs. Smoking, alcohol and drugs, cleanliness, noise, having company over, respect for possessions, time allowed for study and bedtimes are some of the issues that often come up.

"One of our roommates is really clean," said Clark. "When she lives here we keep things neater. (During a party) somebody puked on our rug and couch cushion, so we turned them over ? She came back and said, 'Why is the couch cushion upside down?'"

When the roommate turned the cushion and rug back over, there was red spaghetti on them, among other things. Clark compared what followed to being scolded by parents.

"You know when your mom yells at you, and there's nothing you can do but sit there," she said.

Such problems are inevitable, but it often ends up they aren't so bad if roommates talk about them beforehand and know what to expect from each other. Notably, the expectations between roommates are different from those between friends - who often move in together thinking there won't be any change in the relationship.

Hifumi Ohnishi, a psychologist with the MSU Counseling Center, said this is one of the first things many students realize when living together. The Counseling Center, located in the Student Services Building, is a place students can go to work out disputes between roommates, talk about personal problems, career goals and more.

Ohnishi said many roommates come into the center throughout the early and middle parts of the semester while they are still adjusting to each other. Frequently, when she asks them if they discussed their problems before coming in, it becomes apparent that poor communication is to blame.

"If you're frustrated, don't just be quiet and ignore it," said Ohnishi. "The best tip is, from the first day, share a set of expectations and rules ? be frank and honest."

Generally, the Counseling Center assists with the most extreme roommate problems. Other resources are available for more commonplace issues.

For students living in the dorms, mentors and resident assistants are the primary resources for dealing with disputes.

Meagan Mason, a criminal justice junior and mentor in Mason Hall during the summer, said that negotiation and flexibility are important elements to a good roommate relationship. Certain things, however, should not be compromised.

"The right of every student living in the dorms is the right to study and the right to sleep," she said.

But students living off campus must take it upon themselves to resolve their problems. In addition, it's harder to switch roommates in an apartment or house because leases are binding, legal agreements. This makes it all the more important to establish a good relationship from the start.

Lansing Community College student Austin Maurer and Aquinas College student Mac Piggott, who are living in the same apartment building near Cedar Village during the summer, spoke about their experiences with roommates and outlined some suggestions for getting along. Piggott mentioned one problem he had with a previous roommate.

"It was me buying all the food and him eating all of it."

As far as tips for new roommates go, he said it's important to set ground rules about such things as sharing, agreeing to watch over each other's belongings and letting roommates know before doing things with which they might be uncomfortable.

Maurer added that the rules should apply to any friends, or regulars, who come over to hang out all the time as well.

For example, Piggott said, "If you have a girl over and, like, four guys come over and they won't leave."

Keep in mind to be respectful and be willing to change, and the experience of living with another person can be a rewarding one.

"Be open about everything," said Clark