Housing Web site approved unanimously

A bill encouraging an off-campus housing Web site free to University of Cincinnati students was unanimously passed during Student Government’s Wednesday night meeting.

One of Student Governments goals is to “better serve the students.” The bill states the purpose of an off-campus housing Web site is to benefit UC students by providing an additional avenue through which they might find affordable, quality housing.

The bill was written and submitted to SG by senators at-large Mark Rooney and Lane Hart. They will work to connect the Web site to the already-established organization, Living Off Campus 101. Living Off Campus, LCC has created off campus Web sites for surrounding universities including, the University of Akron, University of Toledo and Kent State University.

The Web site will come at no cost to Student Government or UC students. Ten percent of the revenue raised by Living Off Campus, LLC, will be given back to SG for helping to endorse the Web site.This will allow Student Government to establish a scholarship down the road for UC students.

“It is a win-win situation” Hart said.

The Web site will include options for students to enter their projected spending amount per month, how many rooms, what part of campus and any other amenities desired in a potential living space, Rooney said.

One advantage the site has over other similar Web sites is its requirement to landlords to pay a small fee in order to post their property. This small fee serves as a tool to validate the quality of the landlords themselves and to weed out fraudulent properties.

Although the Web site will be located on the UC Web page, Living Off Campus 101 will be solely responsible for the management and content of the Off-Campus Housing Web site. Student Government will enter into a contract with Living Off Campus 101 for a period of two years with the right of first refusal pending the expiration of the contract. However, after Student Government officials spoke with other affiliated universities, services provided by Living Off Campus, LCC were verified as benefiting students in their housing search.

“There’s been lots of discussion about it, but now its like, lets get it done,” said Tim Lolli, student body president. With final approval and passing of the bill, the projected launch date will be in one to two weeks. The launch will be in time for students to search for Winter quarter housing.

“The Off Campus Web site is a great service for students. I believe it will be an asset for many year to come” Hart said.