www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 14 October 2013 Issue 1275 Free
WHO DOES CLOSER TO IT BETTER? Britain Vs America. REALITY?
MAD HATTERS p.29
Four TVshows, both sides Ewoks at of the pond. Who is best? p.28 arms p.32
First year housing farce
] D E I N E [D By Anna Templeton and James Simpson News Editors Over 200 first year students have been forced into the private sector after the University failed to provide them with accommodation. Rooms has been denied primarily to students who have secured their place through clearing. However, The Courier understands that some students who selected Newcastle as their firm choice have also been left without a bed. Consequently, these first years have been left with no option but to enter the private sector and sign housing contracts with students they have never met in areas they have never visited.
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Over 200 first year students forced into private sector
The Courier also understands that there are at least 100 students on waiting lists to secure University accommodation. Margaret Hunter, Director of Accommodation and Hospitality services at Newcastle University, said: “We have a large stock of University owned and managed property which is guaranteed to students who put Newcastle as their firm choice and who meet the conditions we set out. All 2013 students who meet these conditions have been allocated accommodation.” The Courier spoke to Hannah, a first year student from South Shields, who
told us about her experiences trying to secure accommodation. The journey from South Shields to
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Concerns raised over damage to student experience
her home to Newcastle city centre takes an hour and a half. She said: “I don’t live near a bus stop,
“I wouldn’t have chosen Newcastle if I’d have known. At the end of Freshers’ Week I felt like I had made the complete wrong decision” Newcastle typically takes 25 minutes by car and falls within the ‘reasonable commutable distance’ area specified by the University. However, Hannah’s travel time from
or a Metro station. So I get on a bus which takes me further away from Newcastle, as it’s the only bus that goes to the Metro station. Neither Metro service is especially reliable, and my bus is also
completely unreliable.” Despite the University’s promise of accommodation to students with Newcastle as their firm choice, Hannah expressed how she did not feel like this was clear for students who live in the North East area. “I put Newcastle as my first choice, and as soon as I firmed it I applied for accommodation. I feel like the Uni didn’t make it clear, they seemed to say that there was a guaranteed offer of accommodation. I thought I’d get accommodation, but when I looked into it, it was if you lived in a certain area.” Continued on page 6