Vision says…
Whilst it is easy for us to focus our attention on extreme cases, the frictions present in a landlord/ student-tenant relationship on however small a level cannot be ignored.
Being a student-tenant, rather than one likely to hold the property as their main address, gives the main source of insecurity for the landlord. With a tenant in constant flux, physically and financially, it is hardly surprising that often landlords fail to make the necessary effort required to foster a good tenant-landlord relationship.
Yet when landlords do make this effort the result is clear, they will often avoid re-advertising as the friends of previous tenants will hear about the house before they need to, and the building will more often than not be cared for properly, as small issues can be flagged up before they become serious due to better communication.
It is small issues that often go ignored by both students and landlords with short student tenancies. After all, spending just one year with walls that haven’t been painted in years and have a coating of mould on isn’t too bad is it? And if students find the house in a mess they’ll just be happy they can just leave their mess behind as well…
Thumbs up to…
Kallum Taylor, for an excellent first term as YUSU President. The man also known as ‘Special K’ has already achieved a huge amount related to the new Heslington East campus, securing a more frequent Uni Bus service as well as a cash machine for Langwith and Goodricke students. Recently, Taylor has been campaigning hard for 24-hour college staffing as a result of last term’s referendum result, an overdue requirement for our campus.
What’s more, Taylor led the line for York at last term’s National Student Demo, being realistic about his aims and condemning the comments of Vicki Baars. But it’s not just this which makes Kallum a special President. He always keeps us in touch via his regular YUSU blog (always accompanied by some classic music) as well as through his Facebook page. Student’s Union presidents across the country can, and should, learn much from Taylor’s example.
Thumbs down to…
The Computer Science department, for somehow setting the same questions in an exam as two years ago. Students, preparing for the exam revising old exam questions, must have experienced a sense of deja vu during the assessment. Many other students are angry that others were given an unfair advantage, having already seen the questions on the VLE.
Just how hard can it be, for an exam with just three questions, to find different questions to those posed in previous years? Such complacency is frankly inexcusable, especially during the £9,000 era when students demand, and expect, more than ever before.