AS A student, I am the first to admit many students are loud, messy and sometimes intimidating (Letters, May 11). However, it is unfair to tar all students with the same brush. The author need only refer to “Students to the rescue” (Letters, May 5) to see that not all students disregard others. My housemate and I are careful to check up on our elderly neighbour, offering to buy groceries when the weather was bad. As to the problem of York being apparently “unrecognisable”, it is still a beautiful historic and tourist location, as it always was.

As reprehensible as the clubbing and partying habits of students may seem, they contribute to the local economy. But, most importantly, the universities in York are producing the workforce of the future.

The letter writer’s finances will be handled by an accountant who was once a student; children in the family will be taught by a teacher who was once a student; their constituency will be headed by a politician who was once a student. Students will keep the country going for future generations – so a bit of noise and a few properties exempt from council tax are surely a small sacrifice.

Rachel Grey, Nunthorpe Road, York.