Why Living Next To Students Isn’t The Hell Movies Portray It To Be
The 2016 census reported that Fort Collins has a population of 164,196 residents. Of the over 30,000 residents who are students at Colorado State University, about 80 percent live off-campus. Some live in apartments with mainly other students, but many live in houses. West of the university, a magical thing happens just past Taft Hill road: the neighborhoods become an amalgamation of students and resident families and other individuals. And the truth is, most of those next-door neighbor situations with Fort Collins residents and CSU students don’t end in phone calls to the police.
Did you see the 2014 movie Neighbors, or its sequel in 2016? If you did, you’ll recall the epic ensuing war between a couple and their college-student-frat-boy neighbors. Needless to say, hijinks ensue.
Portrayals like this are not uncommon, and yeah, fairly funny. We’re all adults, literate enough in pop culture to understand that it rarely represents reality with total accuracy. But this content tends to perpetuate the idea that college students are inconsiderate, uncontrollable, and should in no way a desirable neighbor make.
As many Fort Collins residents will remember, we’ve seen validation for this fear in the past, when a house party in 2013 turned into a full on riot, and police used tear gas pepper spray to disperse the crowd. But condemning a population of over 25,000 people for the actions of a small portion is ridiculous, and unfair — especially when students and residents make strides every year in the way they interact for the benefit of the neighborhood as a whole.
The main concern of Fort Collins residents is making sure that students understand and cooperate with city codes and ordinances, which … most of the time … [wait for it] they do! When it comes time for a student to move off campus, they’re informed of CSU’s Off-Campus Life Handbook, which covers everything from legal advice to budgeting, and spends a significant amount of time on city ordinances. The organization behind the handbook even has a handy Twitter account that reminds students of the rules and the consequences when they’re not followed.
So why the fear that students won’t comply? I think all too often the answer is that it’s difficult to see students as the true adults they are. And the truth of the matter is that they don’t want to pay any fines or risk they’re living situation by being inconsiderate or rowdy. Granted, we all grumble and groan about clearing our sidewalks after a big snow, but residents and students alike are guilty of that. When it comes to the important regulations, the ones that ensure neighborhoods are enjoyable places to be for their residents, most students account for these.
“Registering your party is one thing, but if we’re planning anything with more than eight or ten guests, we let our neighbors know.” Says Jacquelyn Francescatti, a CSU student and resident living off Elizabeth and Ponderosa. “It’s common courtesy among neighbors, whether you’re a student or not.”
There are certain things one must understand when living in Fort Collins, especially west of the university campus. Going to the Kings Soopers on Taft and Elizabeth is a tiring business. Dogs are beloved, and everywhere. And when the wind shifts, we can smell Greeley. But most importantly, coexisting with students is a way of life. And whenever it seems frustrating, or nearly impossible, there’s usually only one key ingredient missing: communication. So knock on the door, have a chat. Because it’s worth it, to live here.
