Uni threatens to abandon freshers in hotel

Students at Britannia Hotel have been threatened with exit letters after declining three inappropriate housing offers.

First-years unable to afford the rooms offered to them have been told they will either have to shuffle hotels or will no longer be the uni’s problem in a letter.

But some didn’t even receive it.

Zoologist James said: “After a mate got his accommodation I decided to ring up to find out about mine. They said they were “dealing with it”.

“I applied for Hector Boyce, and everything in the £90 range. When I still didn’t know if I had my accommodation, I rang them.

“They told me in person that if I declined it I may not get given another offer.”

Cosy

The letter said: “I would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as the university continues work to deliver permanent accommodation to you all.

“The university will continue to provide temporary accommodation to those who require it until everyone who qualifies is housed in a permanent residence.

“This means, however, that you may have to move from one hotel to another.

“If we do not receive a response from you by 5pm on Tuesday 23 September 2014 we will assume you no longer require assistance in finding permanent accommodation.”

James said: “The letter was shoved under everyone’s doors but I know of people that didn’t even get the letter.”

Study space on site

But the uni have tried scare tactics to push James to move into another set of accommodation.

He added: “They have given out offers at £150 a week for a shared room but if I took that I wouldn’t be able to afford food, so I declined the offer.

James said: “Student Life told me to get a job. I said I tried to but employers want a permanent address, I don’t have one. I think Student Life got annoyed with that.”

Student Life Director Leith Forsyth confirmed: “There are ten people still in Britannia who are either moving out today or when it is most convenient for them.

“And there are nine students living in other temporary accommodation facilities.

“Everyone has been offered somewhere else to live, except two.”

But the situation is far from ideal. James said: “The WiFi in the hotel doesn’t work properly, so I have to study on campus till late.”

He added: “They offered us storage for our things as well.

“But they never came so all my things are in boxes.”

That’s a reading list and a half

The accommodation was always meant to be temporary but the hassle it has caused has left James feeling apprehensive about ever finding housing.

He said: “I have to carry my washing with me in a laptop bag on to campus to use Crombie-Johnston’s facilities, and then wait on campus for it to be dried.”

You can’t fuck about in the Britannia

The 18-year-old has already had a tough first year: “In Freshers’ Week, I had to walk the whole four miles home, it took me two hours, but getting a taxi was too expensive for me. So I didn’t go out after that.”

And it’s not looking up: “We have been told we will eventually be told to leave.”

At a public meeting with principal Sir Ian Diamond, Student President Emily Beever said: “They can’t throw you out.”