Village managers dismiss student gripes.

by Meena Lakshana

April 22, 2008

MURDOCH Student Village has rejected claims by some students they’re being ripped off, and picked on, by management at the on-campus digs.

“For the amount of money we pay, the facilities and amenities we get are definitely not satisfying,” said Public Relations student Hannah Kamal, who moved into the village last year. “They have flat inspections regularly and they charge students exhorbitantly for failing flat inspections.

“They also fail students for ridiculous things like not cleaning the skirting boards in the flat.”

 A Student Village Survey conducted by the university guild from February 14 until March 4 found a whopping 70 per cent of residents felt rent there was unfair, and unjustifiable as new amenities were minimal and substandard.

“Basically, the way the management and administration staff treat the students here is the main problem,” Ms Kamal said. “They don’t treat us like students ...

“They always blame the students like we’ve done something wrong whenever we go to enquire about something.”

Village director Carolyn Landesman said rent hikes were in line with recent inflation increases, but did admit to sending an email out to students promising new TVs that never arrived.

“I sent out an email to the students saying that they were going to be provided with new TV sets before I took up the matter with the head office,” she conceded. “However, after deliberations, the Head Office disapproved the idea.”

For his part, assistant Village manager Willie Fuimaono said fining residents for failed flat inspections was a necessary evil.

 “Flat inspections are the only way we monitor the residents,” Mr Fuimaono said. “We know who the problematic residents of a flat are and we try to solve as much problems faced by them.

“We do fine residents for not doing their duties, but they are always welcome to appeal the decision ...”

“When they do appeal, we usually forego the fine.”

Village rules also get up the nose of some residents.

“My flat has a party ban and it’s a little unfair because we happen to be in an inconvenient geographical location,” says Farah binti Amin Siru, another PR student who lives in the flat beside Ms Landesman. “We were told that we were being unfair to the students that lived near us.

“However, not a single one of them complained and the only person that complained was the director herself.”

On the subject of the party ban, Mr Fuimaono said Ms Landesman had given four verbal warnings before acting.

 “The last one made by Carolyn went unnoticed by the residents of the flat and they continued to make noise,” Mr Fuimaono said. “That’s when she couldn’t tolerate it anymore.