In order to progress as a community, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said people must stop pointing fingers at each other when something goes wrong and use evidence to solve problems instead.

Simon spoke to East Lansing residents on Thursday at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, as part of a speaker series hosted by the East Lansing Prime Time Seniors Program. Students play an important role in the community, Simon said, and she wants to work together with the city and residents to "recalibrate this vision" of how the city is structured.

"Fit who (students) are into the vision," she said. "These folks are innovators. We've got to think about them."

In addition to community relations, Simon discussed the April 2-3 disturbances, a new medical school in Grand Rapids, the study abroad program, and the relationships among East Lansing residents and the MSU community.

"Our perceptions of what happens are not always reality," Simon said about the April 2-3 disturbances. "We need to be evidence driven."

Two weeks ago, the president sent out a letter to residents addressing her concerns about "disruptive alcohol-induced behaviors" by students.

"The city appreciates the value of students, but doesn't appreciate some of the behaviors of students," Simon said to the audience on Thursday. "Part of it is how students can enjoy themselves and coexist with different lifestyles and where to bridge that gap. It's a matter of how to look at behavior.

"Downtown is not just a bar, it's a place to shop, too. We need to look at both (students and residents) as assets. The places that are doing well are working together."

East Lansing Councilmember Kevin Beard said a better community requires communication from everybody.

"Those areas that are struggling don't have cooperative relationships," he said. "We want the neighboring communities to provide us feedback to try and see things if they're dovetailing.

"I think everything is moving in the right direction."

Kelly Arndt, program director who helped coordinate the event, said she tries to feature speakers that will talk about issues that are pertinent to residents.

"The impact of a large university on a small community and how it influences it is so interesting because that's what we have," she said. "We think we've got a good thing here."

Eighty-year-old Kathryn Boucher, who has lived in East Lansing since 1938, said the most interesting topic was Simon's take on the study abroad program and its value to the community.

"I think traveling is vital," she said. "I speak Italian and bring Italian students over."

She said she has an Italian student living with her who takes classes at MSU.

"He loves it here," she said.

Students should be recognized as equals rather than blamed for the city's problems, Simon said.

"This community is really event driven," she said. "Some of what we're experiencing today is a pattern that doesn't fit at the end. We've got to take our assets instead of deficits and build on those.

"If we don't do this in an asset-based approach, we'll fall in the cracks."

Kristi Jourdan can be reached at jourdank@msu.edu.