# Give colleges eminent domain **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2016, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954 "2016-06-21T13:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/1 "2016-06-21T13:07:10Z")
Many colleges are having housing shortages and are forced to convert common areas into living space for students, or have them live in hotels. We should give them the right of eminent domain, to make it easier for them to take over existing buildings. If a college is taking housing deposits, they should do whatever it takes to get proper rooms for students. Taking a deposit for a dorm or apartment, then making the student live in a student lounge is a major bait and switch. There are usually many privately owned apartment buildings near campuses, and I think colleges should be able to take them over if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/2 "2016-06-21T13:22:49Z")
State run colleges and universities are agencies of the state, which already has eminent domain. The college itself doesn’t need this level of authority. It’s like giving a meter maid the authority to do undercover investigations. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/3 "2016-06-21T13:26:14Z")
While we’re at it, we could grant schools the status of “Free Imperial Cities”, allowing them the right of coinage, taxation, and raising armies. We could reestablish the Aulic Council and forego university sporting teams with all of their perfidy with armed service, engaging in periodic internecine warfare in order to ensure that only the strongest survive to graduation, giving them the choice of sorority princesses as their reward. “Come back with your shield, or on it,” shall be the mantra, returning us to an earlier, more enlightened state of feudualism and chivalry, ensuring that future business and political leaders have an intimate understanding of the effects of balkanization and why you should never conduct a field campaign in Asia in the winter. Caltech, of course, will slaughter the lot of them with bioengineered toxins and neutron-enhanced microfusion devices. “Destroy, erase, improve.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/4 "2016-06-21T13:42:47Z")
Do you feel the same if they want to take one of _your_ buildings? Or only when it’s someone else’s? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/5 "2016-06-21T13:57:35Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > It’s like giving a meter maid the authority to do undercover investigations. I smell a sitcom ! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/6 "2016-06-21T14:20:49Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Many colleges are having housing shortages and are forced to convert common areas into living space for students, or have them live in hotels. We should give them the right of eminent domain, to make it easier for them to take over existing buildings. If a college is taking housing deposits, they should do whatever it takes to get proper rooms for students. Taking a deposit for a dorm or apartment, then making the student live in a student lounge is a major bait and switch. There are usually many privately owned apartment buildings near campuses, and I think colleges should be able to take them over if necessary. Public, private or both? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/7 "2016-06-21T14:21:23Z")
Many universities are IMO outright extorting housing money from their students. I have kids in my car all the time talking about their housing costs. $800/month for each of 4 kids in a dorm “suite” is very common. These kids could get a mortgage and buy a house for that kind of money, but they’re stuck because the University rules insist on dorm housing until at least their 3rd year. Fuck giving schools MORE power over student housing. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/8 "2016-06-21T14:28:58Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Many colleges are having housing shortages and are forced to convert common areas into living space for students, or have them live in hotels. We should give them the right of eminent domain, to make it easier for them to take over existing buildings. If a college is taking housing deposits, they should do whatever it takes to get proper rooms for students. Taking a deposit for a dorm or apartment, then making the student live in a student lounge is a major bait and switch. There are usually many privately owned apartment buildings near campuses, and I think colleges should be able to take them over if necessary. … said the college student? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/9 "2016-06-21T14:35:54Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Many universities are IMO outright extorting housing money from their students. I have kids in my car all the time talking about their housing costs. $800/month for each of 4 kids in a dorm “suite” is very common. These kids could get a mortgage and buy a house for that kind of money, but they’re stuck because the University rules insist on dorm housing until at least their 3rd year. > > Fuck giving schools MORE power over student housing. The housing rules, options, and costs are easily ascertainable before applying to a college, and before enrolling. I agree many rules suck, students are not forced to go to any particular school. My college had a problem with declining enrollment and had a surplus of dorm rooms. We were required to live in the dorms for the first two years, although you could petition to live off campus (I don’t recall the criteria). ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/10 "2016-06-21T14:36:27Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > There are usually many privately owned apartment buildings near campuses, and I think colleges should be able to take them over if necessary. Yeah, screw those pesky private property owners. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/11 "2016-06-21T14:39:23Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Many colleges are having housing shortages and are forced to convert common areas into living space for students, or have them live in hotels. We should give them the right of eminent domain, to make it easier for them to take over existing buildings. \*\*If a college is taking housing deposits, they should do whatever it takes to get proper rooms for students. Taking a deposit for a dorm or apartment, then making the student live in a student lounge is a major bait and switch. There are usually many privately owned apartment buildings near campuses, and I think colleges should be able to take them over if necessary. \*\* Whoa, whoa, hold on. What logic is this? _“They promised it, and they can’t deliver it, so they ought to be able to seize other people’s stuff in order to deliver on their promises?”_ Imagine if we weren’t talking colleges, but rival apartment complexes. \* What if someone said, “If Commercial Apartment Complex A is taking housing deposits, they should do whatever it takes to get proper rooms for tenants. Taking a deposit for a dorm or apartment, then making the tenant live in a lounge is a major bait and switch. Commercial Apartment Complex B has some vacant buildings that haven’t been rented out yet, and I think Commercial Apartment Complex A should be allowed to seize them.”\* ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/12 "2016-06-21T14:48:32Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Whoa, whoa, hold on. What logic is this? _“They promised it, and they can’t deliver it, so they ought to be able to seize other people’s stuff in order to deliver on their promises?”_ > > Imagine if we weren’t talking colleges, but rival apartment complexes. > \* > What if someone said, “If Commercial Apartment Complex A is taking housing deposits, they should do whatever it takes to get proper rooms for tenants. Taking a deposit for a dorm or apartment, then making the tenant live in a lounge is a major bait and switch. Commercial Apartment Complex B has some vacant buildings that haven’t been rented out yet, and I think Commercial Apartment Complex A should be allowed to seize them.”\* Thanks for pointing that out. There is a major disconnect between the OP’s problem and his solution. If they don’t have room for everyone, they should simply stop taking deposits when they reach their limit. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/13 "2016-06-21T15:06:31Z")
1. Start private college in downtown Manhattan. 2. Seize surrounding properties and build chap-ass dorms. 3. Wait a few years and sell prime real estate for PROFIT!! ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/14 "2016-06-21T15:13:16Z")
If you want to see a local politician go running for the hills (for his own safety and sanity), mention the words “eminent domain”! (Hint: They DON’T like to do this.) ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/15 "2016-06-21T15:53:09Z")
Around here, government must compensate the land owner the fair market value of the property. BPA can certainly take my property against my will, but they will have to pay me what the property is worth. For a typical “college town”, expanding the public college is generally a good thing … people around here tend to be more than willing to sell to the college, occasionally at a discount. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/16 "2016-06-21T15:57:05Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > If you want to see a local politician go running for the hills (for his own safety and sanity), mention the words “eminent domain”! > > (Hint: They DON’T like to do this.) Not even if it is for the benefit of 18, 19, and 20 year old college students who probably aren’t even registered to vote in that local politician’s district? Wow, the system is more corrupt than I thought! ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/17 "2016-06-21T16:10:53Z")
I’m wondering if a government agency can obtain real estate in any manner _other than_ eminent domain? There’s important safe-guards in these laws and extensive precedents written and seems silly to write out a bunch of different laws that all say the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/18 "2016-06-21T16:15:42Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > I’m wondering if a government agency can obtain real estate in any manner _other than_ eminent domain? There’s important safe-guards in these laws and extensive precedents written and seems silly to write out a bunch of different laws that all say the same thing. Sure, government agencies can buy real estate on the open market (a building that’s already for sale, e.g., or land on which they make an offer). Eminent domain is the way they obtain property that the owner doesn’t want to sell. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/19 "2016-06-21T16:19:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > The housing rules, options, and costs are easily ascertainable before applying to a college, and before enrolling. … That’s true, but I’m talking about state schools. In many cases, they’re the only realistic choices because private college would be considerably more expensive. Anyway, back to the OP. Students tend to move to private housing when they can because private housing is considerably cheaper than what the schools are charging. So the schools seizing nearby private housing would make the problem worse, not better. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954/20 "2016-06-21T17:15:32Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Whoa, whoa, hold on. What logic is this? Logic? We ain’t got no logic! We don’t need no stickin’ logic!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-colleges-eminent-domain/757954.md?page=2)