Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-10-20)
LEXINGTON
(WEKU) -
Some Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council members claim the University of Kentucky has not done enough to address problems associated with students who live off campus.
The complaints voiced by Neighbors range from large numbers of students living in one house to parking headaches and loud parties. Four University of Kentucky officials attended Tuesday's meeting of the council's planning committee. Lexington Vice Mayor Jim Gray says UK is not helping enough in the search for solutions.
"The university has not made this a priority and that only until the heat has been dialed up has it become a priority," Gray said.
Council member Tom Blues says Uk has been at the table', but local government has put something on the table.' Council member Cheryl Fiegel called for a joint meeting with the UK Board of Trustees. UK Vice President Tom Harris says these housing issues extend beyond the university community.
"I think it has to be a community proposal for all of these issues and it's not just a UK issue," Fiegel said.
Harris says every student who wants on campus housing has been accommodated and UK's residents halls are filled to capacity. He adds student numbers haven't increased much in recent years. In the year 2000, Harris says there were 24,000 students. This fall's figure is 27,000.
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