On the 19th October, voting will begin for hall representatives across UCL, with one big change. The scheme, organised by UCLU, will see those elected as reps receiving a £2000 reduction in their rent for the year. However, the rent cut was not advertised in the application forms, leaflets or posters for the role. Zakariya Mohran, Sustainability, Engagement and Opera- tions Officer, justified the decision, telling The Cheese Grater, “Its not advertised on the leaflets or posters for the position to make sure the people who are running want to genuinely do the job and not just get a rent reduction. [ Just as] with all the publicity for the full time sabbatical roles.” However, whilst the £26k sabbatical offic- ers receive has been common knowledge for years, very few first year students were told about their remuncration.
As a result, the number of students who nominated themselves for the position was predictably low, with 4 of the 13 halls receiving only one nominee apiece. The vast majority of the candidates who spoke to The Cheese Grater stated that they had only been made aware of the rent reduc- tion upon attending a meeting for nomi- nees after having already applied.
Confusion over the role doesnt stop there. It seems unclear how much work the hall reps actually have to do. Two sab- batical officers and Head of Accommoda- tions, Duncan Palmer told The Cheese Grater that the £2000 reduction was ade- quate compensation, since students would be expected to work 16 - 18 hours a week, more than demanded of previous reps.
However, according to the official job description for the role, representatives are only expected to put in an average of an hour a week, with an occasional meeting thrown in. Added to this is the fact that UCL, and not UCLU, will be administer- ing the £2000 rent reduction, blurring the lines of responsibility further. The nomi- nees we have spoken to are still in the dark as to whether they would be reporting to the sabbs, or to university management.
With tensions still high over rent and halls still in poor condition (see Freshers is- sue), it remains to be seen how this move will affect tightly wound student-accom- modation relations.