2 News
University bosses under fire as Waveney students forced to cough_ YP- for damage By NIKKI MALLETT, Chief News Reporter
FORTY WAVENEY Terrace residents have hit out at University bosses, after being stung for the cost of replacing a window they didn 't even break. The disgruntled Block J students have each been sent a bill for £6.68 after the University failed to find the real c ulprit and instead bill led them for the cost of replacing a window broken in October. But. biu:arely, campw. damage. I think it is unfair to bosses haven· t even in voiced fine the whole block when obviously not all of the -+0 the students who live on the tloor where the window was peop le were guilty:· she said. "For some students C7 is a lot broken. of money. It is unfair that some Too dirty ;,tudents shou ld h~11 e to pay for things that they didn ·1 break.'· And the £270 levy also includes the cost of replacing Damage another two windo\\ s in the block that UEA claim they But Accommodation found too dirty to be cleaned. Manager Lawn:nce Daly has Wm·ency resident Emma defended the decision to make >tudents stump up for the Brcnnand (CHE I) is furious at the Cniversil) ·s actions. damage. "There were ongoing Smashed prob lems in Waveney Terrace .I "It was the kitchen window Block, with food being thrown of the downstairs bloc h. that was between all floors over a period sm:bhcd. but the) arc not of Lime. causing a di:-.gu:-.ling paying for iL we are." mess both in the kitchens including ceilings and on the "It's total double standartb. wall' and windows outside:· wc·rc gelling fined for somebody else·, broken Blast-clean v. indow, .. she fumed. "Estates staff were called Fellow resident. Nikki upon to replace the broken Shariat stormed "It's rid iculou' window and blast-clean the that we should pay for ~itchcns." he said. something we didn't do. the \\hole situati on is unfair." And he raised the prospect of student s paying for damage Mistake through higher rent charg<." in th e future . Unio n Welfare Officer Claire "Students must remember White, agreed that that any escalation in cost accommodation bosses had increases pressure to increase made a mistake. "When no one admits to the student rents." he wamed.
A FAIR few students might have hitch-hiked , but not many attempt 1,600 miles in one go. But that's exactly what James Bennett (LAW) and Amy Dunning (HIS 2) are planning to do to raise money for educational charity Link Africa. The pair have already raised £235 with a fancy dress pub crawl, and now they hope their trek to Morocco will bring in even bigger bucks for the charity's work with community schools in South Africa.
Nearly 100 hikers are taking part in the event, which is now in its eighth year. Hitch patron and accomplished explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, is enthusiastic about the scheme. "Not only does this event raise much needed funds for educational development, but it also serves to educate a new generation in the pleasures and difficulties of exploring the wider world in which we live," he said. If you liked to sponsor the pair, phone James Bennett on 01603 627424 or e-mail J:Bennett @uea.ac.uk
Sports park donation CONSTRUCTION OF UEA's new Sports Park came to an abrupt stop last week - to enable University bosses to accept a £35,000 donation. Barclays Bank, which was founded in Norwich , made the contribution to the development as part of its programme of community action . "We are delighted to play our part in the local community in this way by contributing to a much-needed and prestigious facility for the University and for all local peopl e," said Barclay's Corporate Banking Director, Andrew Hardman, who visited the site. "Thi s donation represents Barclays' committment to be a key pl ayer in the resurgen ce of Norwich as we enter the new millennium ,'' he added . Work on the £17.6m Park, which will hold a 50m swimming pool and massive sports hall , is on course for completion next autumn .
Police issue warning as students face court FOUR STUDENTS have been caught up in a police drugs raid after a tip-off from fellow students. 1l1e Nelson Court residents were a rrested when the po lice executed a warrant o n th e building on January 29. A fellow ;,tudenl had ca ll ed the police. alleging that the students had been selling drugs on campus. Three of the students have s ince been reponed for >ummons at court and the fourth was cau tioned, all for alleged drugs offcnces.
Police The bust comes just two months after another po lice raid when two UEA st udents were cautioned for can nabi s possession. PC Di ehl of Norfolk Police has since issued a stark warn in g to drugtaking studems.
Information " If the police have information that drugs are being sold o r used then we will take actio n. so if thi s
situation ari;es again in the fu ture it will he dealt with in the same manner.
Surprise But she ad milled her surprise that fellow students had come forward, ··f think it is interesting in this particular case that the information came from comp laint s from other students, and I think that displays a very responsible altitude."
Unacceptable ··It goes to show that there arc other student s who think thi s behaviour is unacceptable." she added. Union Welfare Officer C lai rc White also praised the student who had tipped of the police.
"I am surprised that studen ts arc coming forward about others taking drugs, but I think it's commendable that people arc becom ing aware of how ser ious drugs are, and that they will call the police in to deal with it.'' Said Claire " I don't think all st udents are aware of the lega l implicati ons of taking drugs, about what ca n happen if you arc ca ug ht in possession of drugs.'·
Caught "Students don't think they will get ca ug ht , but they do," she ca utioned .
And UEA Security Coord in ator Ran Elliot repeated hi s warnin g that the University wi ll not tolerate student s taking drugs in residences .
"There is a legal responsibility when it comes to drug use in a residential property, it is an offence for any owner of property to permit the use of dru gs."