By
Rachael Myer
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Graduate student to protest UA officials for not telling residents of legal rights
A former Christopher City resident will sleep on the lawn of the Administration building tonight in protest of UA officials not informing the former residents of their legal rights when they were relocated.
Jake Elkins, an urban planning graduate student, said the former inhabitants of more than 300 Christopher City apartments should have received more information about what legal responsibilities University of Arizona officials had when they closed the complex.
The complex was closed last week because of toxic mold problems and other maintenance problems.
Elkins said he will sleep on the lawn "until Christmas" or until UA officials inform former residents.
Sharon Kha, UA spokeswoman, said the residents received enough information about their rights.
"We have notified everybody of all the things they are entitled to and what we are going to do for them," Kha said.
She said Elkins has a right to sleep on the lawn in protest but wants him to make sure he takes safety precautions.
"He certainly has the right to express himself, and we will do what we can to facilitate that," Kha said.
Elkins also plans to hold signs in the mornings, between 7 and 8, that read "Families before profit" and "U of A is toxic to neighborhoods."
Elkins said he has slept in a wash near Christopher City Apartment Complex, 3401 N. Columbus Blvd., since he had to move out on Sept. 1.
