Local
Students warned against subletting dorms for inaugural
By: Leah Fabel
Examiner Staff Writer
December 1, 2008
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With houses and apartments being offered for upward of $20,000 on the classifieds Web site Craigslist.com, a handful of area coeds thought a dorm room could be worth at least a few hundred.
Wary campus housing directors acted quickly, even threatening expulsion.
George Washington University, the school closest to the inaugural festivities, issued a special guest policy earlier this month to take effect Jan. 16 through Jan. 21. Inaugural ceremonies take place Jan. 20.
“Students are reminded that they are not permitted to sublease or rent their space,” the all-campus notice said in bold print before outlining restrictions on sleeping in common places and requiring hosts to “accompany guests at all times.”
Chris Moody, American University’s housing director, plans to outline the school’s policy in a notice to be e-mailed to all students today.
“Having guests who are not members of this community imposes a risk to other members of the community who have a right to be here,” Moody said, adding he’s spoken with fellow administrators at nearby schools to share ideas for ensuring inaugural revelers look elsewhere.
At Georgetown University, administrators held a lengthy meeting Tuesday to discuss the dilemma and plan to issue a directive in coming weeks.
Students, it seems, are starting to get the picture — and many are overbooked already with freeloading friends.
“There’s been a big deal about a ton of kids coming in and staying for the entire week,” said Aria Varasteh, a freshman at George Washington.
“The general feeling is that people are looking forward to it, but I do know that some people have way too many people coming, so their roommates are looking for another room, and it gets a little crazy,” Varasteh said.
Charlie Szold, who reported on the issue in American University’s Eagle newspaper, said most students have come around to the idea that dorm rental is dangerous.
“Everyone seems to have the same reaction,” he said. “First they think, ‘This is great — I can’t wait to make this much money!’ And then when it boils down to it, they think, ‘I’m not so sure I want a stranger hanging around all my stuff.’ ”
