gair rhydd
FREE
CARDIFF'S STUDENT WEEKLY
freeword - EST. 1972
ISSUE 924 MAY 17 2010
Features
Sit back and relax about exams with this double-page guide to dealing with stress >> pages 14-15
PHOTO: MORGAN APPLEGARTH
Politics
Costs of living Jamie Thunder News Editor Students in halls of residence paid over £45,000 to Cardiff University in ‘additional charges’ between September 2008 and January 2010, gair rhydd can reveal. Figures released by the University show that, last year, it collected a total of £30,704 in payments other than residential fees, car parking charges, or charges for evening meal options. In the first three months of this academic year, a further £16,591 was collected. Almost half of the money – nearly £21,000 – was paid by students in
Talybont South. In 2008/9 the figure was over £13,000 - an average of more than £10 per resident. The University could not break the ammount down into particular charges, but they include things such as costs for replacement keys, damage to University property, and charges for bin bags not being put out. For most charges only the individual responsible has to pay, but for some the amount is paid for by all members of the flat. Damage to or tampering with any fire equipment, propping open fire doors, and removal of bin bags cost each resident individually. Any tampering with fire equipment in an eight-person flat in Talybont South would incur a total fine of £400,
but a four-person flat would only pay £200. The amount would be the same per resident in either flat. A University spokesperson said that the charges were "set at appropriate levels to cover the cost of extra work incurred and of any property that may need to be replaced" and that the money goes into the Residences budget to cover these costs. However, they were unable to give the cost of rectifying issues that incurred charges over the period. Ed Dolding, Cardiff Students’ Union Welfare, Campaigns and Communication Officer, said that the charges "should never be used as a profit-gathering mechanism". He added: "It's a difficult one to
judge because, ideally, the charge should be only high enough to cover the actual cost of repairing any damage an individual has caused. "On the other hand one may argue that a higher fee is justifiable to act as a deterrent against reckless behaviour which would be to the detriment of other residents." The £45,000 figure refers to money collected between September 2008 and January 2010, but could include debts from previous years which were paid during that period. In December, gair rhydd revealed that residence fees in some halls had increased by up to 40% since 2005. Approximately 5,000 students live in University residences.
We've got a coalition but how does it work? And what does it mean for British politics? >> page 10
Sport
Preview of Saturday's Champions' League Final between Inter Milan and Munich >> page 26