We all know the state of housing in Dunedin, and far too many of us have undergone a baptism of cold, mould, and being told that's how it is and not to expect better. But with the illusion of a Dunedin summer fading we need to face the fact that an “indoor outdoor flow” shouldn't be a literal breeze in your bedroom. The issue of housing is nothing new but what we don’t understand is the true extent of the issue. Is it confined to flats or does it stretch further into halls of residence and uni flats?
That's why starting this week, OUSA will be visiting halls over the next couple of weeks to introduce ourselves and have some face to face convos about the hall's experience and everything it entails. The goal being to provide a conduit for students to provide meaningful feedback and facilitate actual change, with the reestablishment of two committees:
- Residential committee – providing a way for students to have a voice in the governance and decision making of the halls of residence
- Subwarden committee – sub warden’s don’t qualify for the university union, this gives them them a fair opportunity to tackle common issues
Having these key committees firing on all cylinders means that both residents and subwardens won't be subject to the changing tides of the powers that be, and enables OUSA to be reactive to the needs of all students in these spaces.
To all those battling in flats don't worry we are coming to you next, until then if you have any issues don't hesitate to get in touch at residential@ousa.org.nz.
Callum Hadlow
Residential Rep