For some reason known only to the almighty, I fell out of bed early on Saturday. I usually go sit on the front porch for a few minutes each morning. Fresh air and a Camel – seems like an oxymoron, eh? This ritual repeats daily because I prefer not to smoke in the house. Winding around the corner came a group of about 10 people carrying garbage bags. At first I thought it was a chain gang, but then I remembered, it’s “High on Pride” weekend.For the uninitiated, “High on Pride” is a community event in which do-gooders get together and form groups which wander around our neighborhoods picking up after you. This event seems to happen somewhat frequently, probably because it needs to.I am generally happy to hear about anything which can get people from our neighborhood together to do something other than drink to oblivion. Aside from that aspect, “High on Pride” has always rubbed me the wrong way.I stayed long enough to watch them pass by my place. I took it as a compliment that they only passed by. Like many college students, I live in an inexpensive home. This certainly isn’t Upper Arlington. However, just because we students don’t live in half-million dollar houses is no excuse for our homes and streets to be filthy.I consider picking up the exterior of my property to be just another weekly chore, to be performed about as often as vacuuming the carpet. Even with all I do, I can still find the 5-10 minutes each week to do that. So can everybody else.Walking around our community, you really get the idea that college students are the world leaders, businessmen, and slobs of the future. During my term here at Ohio State, I have observed that 12th Avenue has historically been one of the worst. I have not been to 12th at all this year, but I remember last year for sure. Walking up that street, beer bottles and other garbage littered every yard and sidewalk. There were burned-out couches in front yards – even a burned-out automobile in one front yard.Campus Partners wants to renovate the area. Although I am no expert on their plan, I claim that no amount of renovation is going to fix this problem. Pigs will be pigs no matter if they are in a new house or an old one. The only way to make this area nice is to get rid of the filth and pestilence masquerading as the residents.I rent from a real estate company and they have numerous clauses, in the rules that I agreed to, concerning the condition of the property during my residency. I am sure much of these rules are common to other residents with this company, as well as other management companies. However, over the last two months, I have found that this company appears little interested in actually enforcing any of these provisions. I am sure that they are very busy, and so far I have been happy with their service, but the situation remains with some of their properties as well as other companies. If I were a property owner, I would be upset with these management companies because the lack of enforcement affects the market value of my asset.Periodic inspections would probably go a long way. In addition to providing a means of enforcement and deterrence, they would help to foster a better relationship between landlords and tenants. By coming around, property owners and managers could answer questions, inspect properties for maintenance concerns and perhaps catch some problems before they become bigger, more expensive ones.If I were renting properties, I would even come to visit potential tenants at their current homes before renting mine to them. In addition to giving them a free car ride to see my products, I would get some opportunity to see how they would keep them.Of course, all this could be unnecessary. If we acted more responsibly and picked up after ourselves then we wouldn’t need Campus Partners, “High on Pride,” et. al. In addition, your landlords would be more interested in keeping your property looking nice if it weren’t covered with rubbish. Think about it.

David Overeem’s column appears on Mondays.