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Forty students at the University of Kentucky marched from campus to city hall in protest of a new housing proposal that would prohibit college students from renting houses in specific areas near campus. The march was organized by the UK Student Government Association (SG).

SG President Ryan Smith said he thinks the committee has been pushing the proposal because they were feeling pressure from those neighborhoods.  He said the proposal was not well thought out because it does not clearly define the phrase “college student”.

“There’s no definition of what a student is,” Smith said.  “Do they mean a graduate student?  Or a 50-year old student?  The whole thing is unorganized.”

Smith said if put into effect, the proposal will inflate rent prices for the limited houses remaining available to students and increase traffic congestion from a growth in commuters.

If passed at the Planning Committee, the proposal will continue for a final vote at the City Council.

KU junior Hays Cannon got some laughs from community members at city hall when he explained what he thought was behind the policy: "You don't want us in your neighborhood. We don't want to be in your neighborhood." 
 
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