Far too often, the relevance of assignments we complete at this university can be called into question. Granted, much of our course material is assigned with the goal of benefits in the long term. But it’s always encouraging to witness a project that provides students with an immediate real-world payoff. The Students for Renters’ Rights is exactly this kind of project.
Formed this March as part of an assignment for HNRS-302, The Politics of Human Rights, Students for Renters’ Rights aims to inform and educate AU students about their rights as tenants. While their efforts are grounded in the theoretical foundations of human rights, the founding students have been able to apply abstract principles to a topic that directly affects thousands of AU students. And with the ever-decreasing amount of on-campus housing available to upperclassmen, awareness of renters’ rights is now especially relevant to the average AU student.
Moreover, it seems that we could all use an education in the renting process. Students for Renters’ Rights has compiled a quiz to see how much students really know about the rights they hold as tenants. Results have reaffirmed the need for the group — the current average score is a dismal 55 out of a possible 100 points.
Students’ lack of knowledge on the subject should not be entirely surprising. The process of moving off campus is often a haphazard trial-by-fire, as students enter the procedure with little experience in securing their own housing. Such a hit-or-miss strategy often leads student tenants into precarious situations with little recourse available should conditions sour. This was especially evident in 2008, when it was revealed that a number of AU students fell victim to the neglectful practices of the Student Housing Association, a D.C. property management company. Due to the limited knowledge of their student occupants, the company had been able to rent apartments without a license and routinely ignored tenant complaints.
In an effort to prevent such events from occurring, Students for Renters’ Rights is working with Housing and Dining Programs to complete a resource manual for students about to move off campus. If done right, this guide would be a much needed step toward arming AU students with the knowledge needed to ensure a successful experience as renters.
But if this group is to reach its full potential, its founders and AU officials must continue their efforts long after HNRS-302 ends. The Eagle encourages Housing and Dining to incorporate the goals of Students for Renters’ Rights into its long-term operations. This group could act as a permanent support center for students who encounter difficulties with their off-campus living arrangements — an expansion beyond the extent off-campus housing fairs.
This continued and lasting program would further ensure Students for Renters’ Rights meets its admirable goal. And until all AU students are appropriately aware of their rights as tenants, the group’s efforts must continue.
