The WKU Student Coalition for Renters’ Rights held its first monthly meeting Monday night in Downing Student Union at 6 p.m. The coalition’s leadership focused on introducing the organization and its purpose: to support renters against unfair treatment from landlords.

Glasgow sophomore and Chair of the WKU SCRR Jay Todd Richey opened the meeting by highlighting the purpose of the group.

“The number one problem in the Bowling Green community basically is lack of renters’ rights,” he said. “So we started the coalition just to get as many students on board as possible and we’re gonna to try to tackle this issue.”

The group’s main goal is to support the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a law enacted to regulate rental agreements between landlords and tenants. The law requires counties and cities to opt-in. Bowling Green has yet to adopt the policy.

Associate Professor of History Patricia Minter talked about the privacy invasions some female students face. Minter said women often come to her with stories about landlords that let themselves into students’ apartments without knocking, sometimes even while the tenant is in the shower.

“People simply feel that they are powerless, and that’s what this coalition is about,” Minter said.

Louisville sophomore Jody Dahmer suggested the organization get the help WKU’s sororities and fraternities. Dahmer, a senator in the Student Government Association, wants to remain involved with the coalition.

“I had no idea that things were as bad as they were in Bowling Green, where you can be evicted just by reporting about bad how your condition is,” he said. “So I want to do my part to try to make Bowling Green a better and safer place for students.”