Three very non-surprising events happened Monday at the DeKalb City Council meeting.

Non-surprising event number one: NIU student and 6th Ward Alderman Jamie Pennington proposed an ordinance that would limit pre-paid rents and require landlords to pay tenants interest on security deposits.

Non-surprising event number two: Area landlords agreed the ordinance limits the American system of free enterprise.

Non-surprising event number three: The council rejected the ordinance by a 4-3 vote. Pennington, 7th Ward Alderman Jeff Monroe and 1st Ward Alderman Christine Hoagland—the three NIU students on the council—voted for the ordinance.

Landlords expressed a valid concern the ordinance would put them at an unfair advantage with NIU housing because the university would not be required to follow it.

Council members did not want to limit free enterprise and said students apparently want to live in expensive housing at cheap rates. If they cannot afford the housing, they should make other arrangements.

Ideally, this logic holds true. Unfortunately, students generally do not want to live in the residence halls, and the early and acutely intense competition for housing makes it difficult to find shelter if students wait beyond March.

The council did what they thought was best, and they cannot be faulted for that. However, their knowledge of the issue is questionable.