The students at the University of East Anglia were told to move into halls of residence in September for in person teaching. For many, this was not the case, as they were never given a single in person lecture or seminar.

We have now recently received an email detailing the delayed return of students to campus, or telling students (if they do not fall under a specific category) that they must not return to halls. Why would anyone pay for a service that they’re not receiving? In this case, pay for an overpriced room that they’ve been told they can’t use? This is unfair and demonstrates pure greed from the university.

Not only were students forced home early, recieving no refund for any of the weeks that this covered, but have now also been informed that even those that can return, can only do so as of the 25th of January.

All of this is simply not acceptable and we will no longer stand for it. Students are not only being told that they must pay for services they are not receiving, but many have experienced upset at the lack of support they are receiving from the UEA Accommodation Office. This is not okay in the current climate. 

We, the students of UEA, are demanding change and hope that you will recognise the distress that the university has caused.

We demand that the University:

-Commits to a 30 per cent rent reduction for the 2020/2021 academic year, following the precedent set by the University of Manchester;

-Offers all students a no-penalty early release clause from their tenancy contracts, for both this, and the next, academic years (including those students that choose to not return to campus due to fear of the increase of Covid-19 cases in the area);

-Refund all students’ accommodation fees for the weeks that they were sent home early/told to arrive back late in December and January; and,

-The University takes no disciplinary action against rent strikers.

Students have been disregarded massively during these unprecedented times and it is down to the individual universities to act and do what is best for their students.

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