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Sorry, there's no room at the 1nn ••• THOMSMITH News Editor
THE Accommodation service is struggling to house a record number of students. All undergraduate first years who live more than 12 miles from the UEA, non EU overseas u.ndergraduate students and first year postgraduate overseas students are supposedly guaranteed accommodation by the University. But those who are arriving now are having no end of trouble, as the various schools at UEA have
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accepted many more students than there are rooms. As the funding of higher education institutiorrs is very tight at the moment, the schools are being forced to fill and in some cases oversubscribe their courses to guarantee the funding the university needs. Unfortunately this, coupled with the high A-level results this year, means that there are not enough rooms left for the students. Not only are the guest suites full, but all the double rooms are filled. Students are now being put up in hotel rooms, and staff are being asked to take in freshers on a short term basis. An estimate suggests
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All THE ENTERTAINMENT YOU COULD MR REASONABLY STOMACH
that there may be as many as 300 students without campus accommodation. Staff are being paid £25 for each night they house a student, although the freshers will only pay the usual accommodation rate - about six pounds a night, and are given free food in the diner. Students affected by th'e lack of housing can complain directly to the accommodation office. One member of the Student advice centre team said that he had been brought in especially for ~he housing problems. He refused to comment on just how bad the situation was. USA Post graduate student Elizabeth gave a familiar story:
"! was guaranteed accommodation when I applied. l filled out all the forms early, and was told there would be no problem. The only thing I was worried about was housing, and I was regularly reassured . I think I've e-mailed everyone in the University. I've been put in a hotel. This is my first time in Norwich, and I'm separated from everyone - I feel very lonely and isolated. - And angry". The accommodation service is trying to house everyone temporarily and as rooms become available from students dropping out or even not turning up in the first place (continued on p4)
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