University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, February 9, 1988 TuesdayForum 5 Tenants need not fear landlords Renters' rights organizations can help stop problems before they occur Stephen Kline/KANSAN Recently, tenants from the company Woods apartment complex gathered to discuss the problems related to their living situation and the possible solutions to these problems. During the course of the meeting, the group made some important discoveries: First, as tenants, they do have rights; second, as they worked together, feelings of helplessness over their situation dissipated as they realized they could accomplish more as a united group. The group met, not to unify against their landlord, as some have suggested, but to support each other as they exercised their rights as tenants. Both of these discoveries are at the core of the empowerment of tenants, which is one of the major objectives of the Lawrence Tenants Association. The Lawrence Tenants Association is an organization whose primary purpose is to advocate and strengthen tenants' rights, to help educate tenants about their rights and to provide support as they exercise them. The Lawrence Tenants Association promotes the image of tenants informed of their rights and responsibilities, joining together to promote the welfare of all tenants. The tenants of Colony Woods have demonstrated that the apathy of which young people today are often accused doesn't apply in all cases. What they have done by coming together as a group should be viewed in the most positive light. Who would see a group of tenants getting together to discuss their rights under the law as a threat or as anti-landlord? Perhaps only landlords who view the young, uninformed tenant as a gold mine. Maybe some landlords would prefer tenants to remain ignorant of their rights, but not their responsibilities, under the law. There are many good landlords in Lawrence. These landlords view their occupation as one that requires providing housing on a rental basis for a fair, but not exorbitant, profit, and practicing good business ethics. These landlords work with tenants and do not take advantage of their ignorance of the law. They view complying with the Human Relations ordinance and meeting minimum Gregg Stauffer Julia Pitner Guest Columnists housing codes and fire codes as responsibilities of their occupation. They keep their properties well-maintained. These landlords probably encourage tenants to get together to discuss their rights and responsibilities. In fact, they are probably relieved that these rights and responsibilities relieve landlords of their role as caretakers of tenants, which isn't their responsibility. On the other hand, there are some landlords who have become so concerned with making money that they have incorporated an unethical way of doing business into their thinking. They view the young, uninformed tenant as a means of increasing their profits. They view the Human Relations ordinance, housing codes and fire codes as harassment. Suggestions that these protections should be strengthened or enforced send them into frenzed tirades of complaining that the laws will be used to abuse them and threatening that any change favoring tenants will lead to an increase in the rents they charge. They take advantage of the lack of laws in Kansas protecting security deposits and find ways to keep some or all of them. They allow their properties to deteriorate. They become so preoccupied with expanding their profits that they have lost their grip on good ethics in business. The Lawrence Tenants Association was formed after extensive research had proven the need for a group with the primary concern of advocating tenant rights. Currently, we are the only organization in the state that specifically addresses tenants' interests. There are well-organized and financed landlord organizations locally and statewide that have been effective in influencing policy-making and state laws on behalf of landlords. The Lawrence Tenants Association believes that good relations between landlords and tenants can be accomplished when both sides feel they are being treated fairly. We believe that providing tenants with a voice to have their interests heard is a step toward promoting good relations between landlords and tenants. We have discovered some areas in which we believe change is necessary to move toward a better balance between landlords and tenants. There are problems. Landlords and tenants must acknowledge the problems and work together for solutions. The Lawrence Tenants Association promotes tenants banding together to support each other as they educate themselves of their rights and responsibilities as tenants. We do not encourage tenants to group together in opposition to their landlords, but rather to help each other with their experiences as tenants. Tenants can work one on one with their landlords while associating in a unified manner with each other. Problems do not have to happen before tenant associations are formed; on the contrary, tenant associations can help avoid problems before they occur. Gregg Stauffer is director of the Lawrence Tenants Association and a Lawrence sophomore. Julia Pitner is co-director of the Lawrence Tenants Association and a Lawrence sophomore. Anti-gay argument can also be skewed to apply to religion Gordon Gruber's guest column, explicating the reasons why gay and lesbian persons should be denied equal protection under the law was impressive and convincing. His arguments were so persuasive, in fact, that I believe that we should extend and apply them to other classes of persons who are presently protected by ordinances and laws that parallel Lawrence's human relations ordinance. Let us, with equal logic, conviction and determination so evident in Gruber's essay, examine the "protection-worthiness" of religion, one of the protected categories under the present Lawrence ordinance, and apply the five criteria which typify protected classes: 1. A DEMONSTRABLE PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION. There is no such pervasive pattern involved with "Religious Rights." One would be hard pressed to find documented evidence that one particular religious preference or orientation is the object of discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodations in Lawrence. In fact, religion has become a privileged category, its privilege far surpassing other categories such as "Race", as reflected in its qualifying organized groups to avoid taxation. 2. CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL INJURY. No such injury has been demonstrated by proponents of "Religious Rights." Indeed, the opposite is true; religious persons and organizations have been protected by the law from prosecution when they have caused substantial injury to their adherents. Witness recent difficulties in charging and prosecuting Jim Bakker's PTL organization for allegedly defrauding thousands of faithful of millions of dollars. 3. A CLASS OF PEOPLE WITH AN UNCHANGABLE STATUS. The immutable characteristics such as race, color, national origin, and gender are not analogous to religious belief. No human rights laws protect behavior, and certainly none protect preferences. 4. A CLASS OF PEOPLE WHICH HAS NO ELEMENT OF MORAL FAULT. No moral fault is attached to being black or white, a native or an immigrant, a man or a woman. Douglas Murphy Guest Columnist 'One would be hard pressed to find documented evidence that one particular religious preference or orientation is the object of discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodations in Lawrence.' however, moral fault can be attached to certain religious beliefs and practices. For instance, the central ritual of my religion (which shall remain unspecified for fear of harassment for those who do not agree with my belief) involves the consumption of wine which is mystically believed to be the blood of our leader who died almost 2,000 years ago. There are many, I am sure, who would object on moral grounds to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially in religious services, and there are even more who would object to the suggestions of ritual cannibalism of which we have often been accused. 5. WHERE PREJUDICE IS BASED ON CRITERIA THAT ARE ARBITRARY AND IRRATIONAL Human rights laws do not limit freedom to make rational choices, and choices based on faith rarely can be considered strictly rational. With the incontrovertible evidence of the risks to human life wreaked for millennia by wars sponsored and encouraged by religious persons and groups, prejudice against the religious has a firm basis in rational fact. Is the protection of religious belief necessary or desirable in Lawrence? In light of the above fact, the answer is a firm "No." Douglas Murphy is a Lawrence graduate student. Boyd's Coins—Antiques Buying Gold-Silver Coins Class ring. - Diamonds 731 New Hampshire Lawrence, KS 66044 842-B773 Story Idea? Call 864-4810 Enjoy smooth, creamy Frozen Yogurt I Can't Believe It's YOGURT! Frozen Yogurt Stones 97% Fat Free! --Free Samples-- Louisiana Purchase Shopping Center OPEN: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Daily Noon: 11 p.m. Sundays LAWRENCE PAWN & SHOOTERS SUPPLY DISCREET.QUICK LOANS Jewelry, Audio Video eqpt. Typewriters. Cameras, Musical Instruments, Firearms & MUCH MORE BUY, SELL, TRADE Mastercard, Visa, Layaway 718 New Hampshire 843-4344 --- At Godfather's Pizza Your Search Is Over! If you have been searching for a great tasting pizza, look no further than Godfather's Pizza $ ^{\mathrm{TM}}$. We use only 100% real dairy cheese and prepare our dough fresh each day. 711 W.23rd 843-6282 Early Week Special $11.99 / $9.99 plus tax LARGE / MEDIUM COMBO PIZZA or up to 4 tappings Original Crust Plus Free 20 oz. drinks 4 drinks with large / 3 drinks with medium Offer good Mon, through Wed. Dine-in, Carryout or Delivery where available. Valid with other promotional offers. Limited delivery area and time. GODFATHERS WHAT A FACTORY! PIZZA Offer 23.99/piece Large Pizza for a Medium Price Present this coupon and receive any large pizza for the price of a medium. Dine-in- Carryout or Delivery where available. Valid on Original Pizza. Not valid with other promotional offers. Limited delivery. Limit area and time. Present this coupon and receive $3.00 OFF any Large or $2.00 OFF any Medium pizza. Dine-In-carry or Delivery where available. Valid on Original Pizza. Not valid with other promotional offers. Limited delivery. Limit area and time. $3.00 - $2.00 GODFATHERS WHAT A FACTORY PIZZA Offer GODFATHERS WHAT AM I DOING TO SAVE FOOT PIZZA Offer Hot Slice™ Special 2 for $5 Present this coupon and receive TWO lunch specials consisting of two Hot Slice, one trip through the salad bar and a medium drink for only $5. Regularly $3.70 per person! Available Monday-Friday, lunch time only. GOD OTHERS HOT SLICE PIZZA Offer MULTIPLE