Christian Seiersen reports for Durham University’s The Tab on extra charges being made to final-year students to stay in their accommodation during Freshers’ week:

Colleges are forcing third years to pay £20 a night to stay in their own rooms during Freshers’ Week.

In a controversial decision, the University Senate ruled college let agreements for third years will begin on October 6, a week after freshers arrive.

Finalists wishing to come up for the week are forced to stump up a total of £140.

Usually a large component of Induction Week (the university’s trendy new term for Fresher’s), many third years are now notable by their absence.

According to DSU Welfare Officer, Jenny James, this has created a host of problems. She said: “Fresher-parent events in college which were crucial to the first week have had to be changed, there aren’t as many people around to run society stalls at the Fresher’s Fair and in general integrating returners with Freshers is going to be much harder”.

Full article here.