Oregon DAILY EMERALD Mondas . February 18. IWI F.ugenc. Oregon Volume 'I Issue 102 Insid« A lane County jury is deliberating the fate of University Professor Den nis Gilbert, on trial for criminal mischief and trespassing charges stem ming from a labor protest in )uly. See story, Page 7 More than 200 stu dents and community members protested the Persian Gulf War Satur day at a noon rally that moved from the EMU Courtyard to the Federal Building in downtown Eugene. See story. Page 9 Gulf War CBS is increasing its efforts to locate reporter Bob Simon and his crew, who were captured by an Iraqi patrol near the Sau di-Kuwaiti border four weeks ago. See war briefs, Page 5 American pilots are worried about the blaze of anti-aircraft fire they will have to fly into during an all-out attack on Iraqi-oc cupied Kuwait, only one seabird in 10 is expected to survive the mammoth oil spill oozing its way flown the Persian Culf. and biologists fear entire colonies of birds will be wiped out. See war briefs, Page 5 Sports The Oregon men's bas ketball team extended its winning streak to four games Saturday with a win over Pac-10 cellar dweller Washington at McArthur Court, 67-64 See story. Page 10 The Duck women’s team was not as fortunate against its foes to the north, as it suffered a loss to Washington State on Friday and another to lOth-ranked Washington on Sunday. See story, Page 14 Because of space limi tations. Calvin and Hobbes. Hudson Van Curen and the daily crossword puzzle will not run today. The Emerald apologizes for any incon venience this may cause its readers. Agencies respond to fee proposal Owners use fee to check history By Rene DeCair Emerald Reporter first and last month’s rent, deposits and application fees can add up to a heavy financial burden for a prospective renter, particularly a University stu dent on a tight budget But if a bill recently intro duced in the state House pass es. Oregon renters would get a break from paving non refund able application fees If it passes those seeking lo cal apartments would get relief from mounting fees, and Uni versity area rental agencies would lose what has her oine a lu< rative sourt e of income Rep. Bill Dwyer, D-Spring field. said he drafted the bill banning application fees for rentals to prevent landlords from making a profit off the fees. "This is another rash cow that they can milk." said Scott Bartlett. Dwyer’s legislative as sistant. Dwyer said he believes stu dents and low-income people are hurt by the application costs, which are difficult for them to pay. and that such charges mas sometimes result in people not finding a place to nCN'AI Ap(>t'C*’l0fi o”°N »P«>LI kk*> J. -> ■■i Ul,v<c»>" l. ’ ITmiIii b> S««n PihIoii Krnt.il agencies charge a fee to proctrss an potential tenant's application, which some claim is unfair and prices people out of housing Agency owners say the fifes are necessary to coyer the costs of checking applicants' credit histories. live Not everyone agrees with Dwyer. however Local proper ty management companies have have critici/.ed the pro posal. denying they make mon ey from the application fees ranging from Sit) to $;to In stead. they say the money is needed to run credit diet ks on prosper live ti'ii.ints "We want to make sure tti,it were getting tht* best resi dents thiil we can." said Harrv (tliiiilon. executive proporty manager at Jennings and (to . an agent v with many rentals in the l 'niversitv area Tilt; expense of checking a person's credit "gets pretty high" Hlanton said Hut Dwyer, saying he is not convinced that credit checks are even necessary, believes rental agencies should absorb Turn to RENT. Page 4 Lawmakers hoping to banish rental fees Rental companies accused of placing undue hardship on students, needy By Joe Kidd Emerald Politics Editor l or many years, those looking to rent an apartment or house have had to pay a non refundable fee simply to 1m- considered as a tenant Hut that will change if several state legislators have their way v^m,RT While rental agencies suv the practice of charging non-refundable application fees is necessary, a handful of lawmakers believe the screening method has become a money making scam and have introduced legisla tion that would outlaw such a charge House Hill 2b3H. introduced in the House two weeks ago by Rep Hill Dwyer, D Springfield. would prohibit rental agencies from charging non-refundable application fees And the legislation goes so far as to es tablish penalties as high as 10 times the amount of rent or the possible revocation of the business' license if such a charge is re quited. ‘‘These fees are almost criminal, when the vacancy factor gets low and there are so many people competing for rentals." Dwyer said. "It gets to be a scam Rather than just to cover incurred costs, people want to make a profit off the fact that these (appli cants) don't have an apartment.” With non-refundable fees ranging from $10 to $30 dollars, Dwyer calls the applica tion charges "an abusive practice" that makes it difficult for people of lower-in come levels to find housing "Those till worse by it <ire people, includ ing students, who really don't have a stable source of housing and may have to apply in numerous cases." Dwyer said But managers in the rental industry sa\ the screening process costs money an ex pense that individual applicants should pay. rather than having to raise tenants' rents to pay for the credit and reference checks that are made when screening appli cations ‘Those hit worse by it are people, including students, who really don’t have a sta ble source of housing and may have to apply in numer ous cases. ’ -Rep. Bill Dwyer, D-Springfield "Why should someone who is not mov ing have to increase their costs for someone else to apply?" asked David Meissner, a manager at (lateway Village Apartments in Springfield "That cost has to lie borne by someone Why shouldn't (applicants) have to pay? The person who moves a lot should pay the fee. An apartment house can't run in the red. can it?” But legislators who oppose the practice sav the application fees are an expense that make the difficult process of finding afford able housing unnecessarily < nstly "You could spout) up to $200 in applica tion fees alone in a month of searching." said Sen Grattan kerans. a Demotrat from Eugene who is a sponsor of the hill "Peo ple could spend up to the amount of the first month’s rent on application fees for needed housing just to get turned down." "Why should everything make money, every aspect of every kind of detail make money?” Dwyer asked Sponsors of the legislation not only op pose what they see as an unnet cssary hur dle for those looking for housing, hut also claim some property management agencies charge the fees to make a profit. Without citing specific cases. Dwyer saul he believes some agent ics go so far as to hold apartments open for extended periods to gather more application fees Hut Gateway's Meissner denied that charge, saying rental agencies try to keep them to a minimum to remain competitive within the industry. ”1 don't know why they would jack up the fees unnecessarily.” Meissner said. "The person who can keep his expenses the lowest with the liest quality is going to Ire the most competitive. Everyone is working to keep costs low And as for holding apartments open to collect more fees. Meissner said he has nev er heard of an agency doing that "I can't comprehend that, when you have an apartment vacant." he said "It definite ly wouldn't apply to a large apartment com plex " Turn to FEE Page 6