Late in July 2011, the residents of Silver Oaks place were informed that Capstone Development Corporation had purchased their homes, and they would need to find somewhere else to live.

The senior citizens who occupied Silver Oaks have since tried their best to combat the directive while looking for new homes. However, as the eviction announcement was made in the middle of the summer, hundreds of students were searching for housing as well, making the search for a place to live a tall order for recently evicted seniors.

Currently, the remaining Silver Oaks residents are seeking legal counsel to explore their options. A rally was held in support of the seniors. However, it must be acknowledged the underlying factors of the issue.

Capstone purchased the land on which Silver Oaks is built in order to construct a new student housing facility. In a booming college town, student apartment facilities can earn money rather effectively. At the end of the day, this essentially means the student body enables business acquisitions like the Silver Oaks eviction.

With the volume of student enrollment at an all-time high, development companies like Capstone have ample incentive to buy up real estate and to build apartment complexes to profit from the high student population. If enrollment rates were lower, there would be less reason for Capstone to purchase Silver Oaks.

It’s crucial to understand the state of our town and why it is the way it is. Students should be aware of the impact their presence has on the community.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.