An Emerson College student faces disciplinary action because he rented his dorm room, apparently one with a view of the Boston Common/Public Garden, on Airbnb.
The student, Jack Worth, is now a flash point on social media, a cause célèbre for followers who posted a petition on his behalf on Change.org (380 signatures as I write this), and launched a #FreeJackWorth hashtag on Twitter (TWTR). But he’s a goat to others who say trying to make a buck off of school property doesn’t a hero make.
The Boston Globe picked up the story which struck a chord among many students who pay through the nose to study and live in Boston. But, as Emerson told the newspaper, the college’s housing policy prohibits subleasing or renting college housing, citing security risks.
Maybe Jack Worth wouldn't have had to rent out his dorm room if college weren't so ludicrously expensive. #FreeJackWorth
— 💎🙌💎🙌💎🙌 (@YoshiDinoJr) February 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/MagnaFarta/status/694647816350797825
Airbnb, the online service that exemplifies the so-called “sharing economy,” is controversial in many cities. Hotels beef that it undermines their business and many condo and co-op boards don’t want a steady flow of strangers coming in and out of their buildings, citing security and noise concerns.
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Fortune reached out to Emerson and Worth and will update this story as needed