► Hope Beyond the Slope

With tuition fees set to rise from 2012 and the cost of Higher Education increasing rapidly, the Students' Union is coordinating the 'Hope Beyond the Slope' campaign to make sure that accommodation at Sussex is affordable. You can join the campaign on Facebook.

The University's long-term housing strategy involves the demolition of East Slope, currently the cheapest accommodation on campus. This will have a significant impact on the average rent on campus.

We believe that providing low cost housing is vital if Sussex is to attract students from lower income backgrounds. Rents and living costs at Sussex are already some of the highest in the country. The average weekly rent for University managed accommodation is currently estimated to be around £99 per week, however, with the addition of the new Northfields residence from September, this will rise to over £103 a week.

The Students’ Union would like your support to urge the university to commit to:

Freezing current rent prices for the next three years.
Replacing East Slope with non-en suite accommodation which would occupy the position that East Slope does currently at the bottom of the price range.
Consulting thoroughly with both the Students’ Union and the wider student body on an annual basis regarding rent increases and new developments.

We are seeking input from the student community before we compile a full report. You can get involved with this campaign by posting things on the campaign's wall or by emailing Jo Goodman, Welfare Officer, welfare@ussu.sussex.ac.uk:

Written accounts of good times in East Slope, why it’s the heart of campus and why affordable accommodation is so important
Pictures of life in East Slope
Videos
Artwork
Ideas for events or flashmobs

Get creative; the possibilities are endless!

Campaign update: March 2011

We've had an incredible number of stories, messages and photos celebrating the things that make East Slope such a special place to live and highlighting the importance of affordable accommodation.

Since our last update, we've taken our demands, reasoning and evidence to the University's management. After discussions at University Committees, Vice-Chancellor Michael Farthing referenced our lobbying as he made a commitment to 'reasonably priced' accommodation on campus. We have since held discussions with the University's Facilities Management team and Vice-Chancellor's Executive Group that lead us to believe the Students' Union will part of the process of developing the University's future Residential Strategy.

This is very much down to the honest and heartfelt responses from students and we urge you all to carry on campaigning for affordability on campus. You can see the stories and photos we've received on the Hope Beyond the Slope campaign Facebook page.