Worst house contest aims to improve housing
My name is Chris Tatarowicz, and I am working with the Associated Students of Madison as the coordinator of the Worst House in Madison competition this year. As you know, two of ASM's goals are to improve the living conditions of student tenants and also to inform those tenants of their legal rights.
Unfortunately, too many UW-Madison students live in subpar conditions and are not even aware that the law says they don't have to. Landlords abuse their power far too often in Madison, and the Tenants' Rights Campaign hopes that the Worst House in Madison contest can bring this fact to the limelight. Any student who feels that his or her apartment is a dump is free to enter, and those who submit the worst entries are eligible to win cash and prizes.
In addition to running this contest, Tenants' Rights will also be pushing for legislation that favors student tenants and running an online survey to more fully understand the scope of the problem. More information will be provided as the semester progresses, but expect to see ASM taking an active role in favor of tenants' rights.
