For those of us who aren't police officers, we're quick to empathize with our friends — the down-on-their-luck, struggling students looking forward to the weekend to unwind, only to get a ticket for violating the noise ordinance.

For those of us who can relate to the police officers handing out these tickets, it seems viable to want to suppress a certain level of sound at specific times.

What it all comes down to is a give-and-take relationship. To satisfy both the police force and the student residents, we need a relationship that focuses on communication and respect; one that holds common sense and consideration above all other personal desires.

That said, let's talk about common sense.

Students, consider this: If you've been at a party that has been broken up by the police, or where the home owners have been given noise violation tickets, could you see that same party happening, say, in a dorm on campus? What about at your parents' house — with your parents home, of course?

That question probably deserves a resounding "no."

This is our slice of common sense. If it was too loud on campus, or if mother wouldn't approve, you can be pretty sure that the police won't approve either.

As for the police, this one's for you.

If you see some students playing beer pong in their front yard and hear the occasional shout of joy after hitting a crucial cup, is that really so disturbing to the public? No.

What about when you see one partygoer stumbling loudly from a party? Does that require you to enter the party and hand out noise violation tickets to the residents? Again, the answer is "no."

These are pretty basic issues, but sometimes we all need a friendly reminder.

Students should respect their neighbors, regardless of whether they're students or other East Lansing residents. Police enforcers should be honest about whether certain parties really are disturbing or not.

And most obviously, any confrontation can be avoided as long as both police and students practice common sense.