<p>Basically, for years, Evanston has had a law on the books that forbids more than three people who are unrelated from living with each other. This law has thankfully gone unenforced for years. However, starting in July, Evanston is going to start enforcing it. The University, instead of lobbying to repeal the law, is advising students to look for off-campus housing farther away from the university, such as along the El line.</p>
<p>This outrageous law poses a serious threat to the sense of community here at NU (how can we be a community if a large segment of the student population is essentially commuting to school?), not to mention how difficult it will make it for students to afford off-campus housing, and also the predicament of the students who have already signed leases for next year. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.</p>
<p>I encourage everyone to sign this petition, even the incoming freshmen. This may not affect you directly now, but it will a few years from now when you may be interested in off-campus housing.</p>
<p>I agree with both of you. However, I feel even more betrayed by the University. The Administration claims that the sense of NU community is one of their priorities, yet when this happens, their response is to bend over backwards and tell students to find homes along the El line. Just ridiculous. It hurts that Evanston would do this, but it’s not exactly surprising. The University, on the other hand, I would have expected to be on our side here. But they’re not. I can’t believe they would betray us like this.</p>
<p>My daughter heard that this was going to happen a few months ago. It really is quite late for all those who are looking to rent next year. Is it even legal? Someone should check with the ACLU.</p>
<p>I also think Evanston will suffer as 4-6 bedroom houses that students rent will now be empty as will many 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Not sure why it is suddenly important to enforce rather than remove. What are the consequences - a fine? Do they think it will be a revenue enhancer?</p>
<p>My opinion is based on the fact that i live in america? It just seems hard to police to know how many people live in each apartment or house and to know if they are related or not…?</p>
<p>Pretty easy to enforce. The City of Evanston has housing inspectors. If you were to enter my son’s house off campus, it’s pretty easy to count beds. And no one would think that my son and his roommates were brothers (although they are of one sort …)</p>
<p>Now they’re trying to claim they never intended to step up enforcement? How stupid do they think we are? As the article points out, at the meeting last night, the town official came right out and SAID that they were planning to up enforcement. Now they’re trying to make it look like we went all crazy over nothing. I’m glad that they’re not going to go through with it, but the fact that they’re making out like we reported the facts wrong and then blew up over nothing irritates me.</p>
<p>I’m glad Morty stepped up to the plate and stood up for the students (and to get it done in one meeting, only one day after the blow-up, having just come back from an out-of-state trip, wow. THAT is a pretty darn awesome president). But I still can’t believe the comments that Betsi Burns woman made originally. Honestly, she should be fired. She obviously doesn’t have the interests of the students or of NU as a whole at heart (and enforcement of this law would have been catastrophic for NU as a whole). I’m glad Morty stepped up, but it shouldn’t have taken the huge reaction from the student body to get the administration to defend us. It’s like they only switched tactics because they knew they’d have a mutiny on their hands if they didn’t. I have the feeling that if they could have gotten away with letting Evanston screw us over, they would have done it. That bothers me.</p>