With President-elect Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration looming nearer, D.C. is preparing itself for record numbers of tourists. District officials have projected as many as 4 million people could turn out on the National Mall to witness the historic inauguration of the nation's first black president. While the nation's excitement is good news for the country, it poses a logistical challenge for those needing a place to stay - and profit-seeking residents are taking notice.
If students try to sublet their dorm rooms and apartments to these travelers, they face serious risks. Rooms, houses and apartments are already posted on Craigslist and some have fetched thousands of dollars. Most hotels have stopped taking reservations; potential tenants are desperate and willing to pay.
Students need to understand that renting out their apartments or dorm rooms to these random travelers is an absolutely terrible idea. Besides being expressly illegal, both for students in the residence halls and those who rent at the Berkshire Apartments, if you sublet your apartment to the highest bidder, you have no clue who will show up on your doorstep come Jan. 19. You've also got no control over what those people do while you're gone for the night. If you choose to stay while subletting your apartment or dorm, you risk more direct harm.
Surely, there remain those students who are unconvinced; the potential monetary reward is just too great relative to the risk assumed. These students should understand that taking those risks is still irresponsible on behalf of those students with whom they share communal living space. This especially holds true for those living in the residence halls - it is not all right to endanger your fellow students to make a few bucks.
What's more, the legal repercussions of being caught are significant. If reported by a neighbor or member of the community, offenders risk expulsion from their housing arrangement. Students expelled from the residence halls would need to find housing off campus; those expelled from the Berks would need to move further away from campus.
Even in the face of easy money, be smart. Respect your fellow students and community members.
