Sometimes more isn't merrier Editorial, pg. 12

University students who are squeezing eight friends into a four-bedroom
Urbana house to save money should beware; they might soon find
themselves looking for a new place to live.  Under Urbana housing
codes, portions of the area between Lincoln Avenue, Race Street,
Green Street and Michigan Avenue are zoned so that no more than
four unrelated people can live in certain houses.  Obviously spurred
by Urbana residents who don't want students taking over their
neighborhoods, the ordinance keeps some residential areas from
becoming just another part of Campustown. Understandably, not many
homeowners want to live next door to people who have loud parties,
loud music and late-night schedules.  And if student renters looking
for housing in Urbana are aware of the ordinance, zoning restrictions
won't cause them any problems. But if students are ignorant of the
law, or they go ahead and violate it anyway, they will be the ones
to pay. Not only can violators be evicted, but they might also put
up with substandard conditions to avoid filing a complaint and
being caught.  Greedy Urbana landlords who show and rent houses to
more than four people should be punished. But in reality, those
leasing the property lose nothing, whereas student renters must
either find new housing in the middle of the semester or pay more
rent to make up for the roommates who had to move out.  Renters
can protect themselves against eviction by finding out the number
of people who can legally live in their house. Making one simple
phone call before moving ensures that students won't be taken
advantage of by landlords who want to make a few extra bucks.