Emails reveal freshers told to accept Ustinov rooms or lose college housing
By Abigail Tobias and Isla Mustin
Palatinate has obtained emails revealing that undergraduates assigned to Ustinov College’s Sheraton Park site were not given the option to live elsewhere despite an initial University letter to residents claiming students have “chosen to live there.”
The Ustinov principal Professor McGregor had previously announced in a statement reported on by Palatinate that “both Van Mildert and St Aidan’s students had chosen to live at Sheraton Park with an awareness of its residential setting”
Emails obtained since Palatinate’s initial story reveal that first year students assigned Van Mildert asked to live away from college in post-graduate Sheraton park were forced to either accept the offer or withdraw from student accommodation. There was no option for them to reside on-site in their college.
Emails obtained since Palatinate’s initial story reveal that first year students assigned Van Mildert asked to live away from college in post-graduate Sheraton park were forced to either accept the offer or withdraw from student accommodation. There was no option for them to reside on-site in their college.
In an particulars of offer for a Van Mildert student to be housed in Sheraton Park obtained by Palatinate, the University states “In the event that you fail to accept our offer of Accommodation and make the payment of Advanced Rent as set out herein by Sunday 14 September 2025 this offer shall expire, and be considered to be withdrawn.”
When the student expressed their wish to live onsite in order to better integrate into the college they were told in an email by Van Mildert College, “I am afraid that we are completely full in the catered accommodation at the moment so will not be able to move you at the present time.”
The email added that students living at Sheraton Park will be taken to and from the main Van Mildert site during welcome week and, although not living there, are “strongly encouraged to keep engaging with college throughout the academic year.”
“Information supplied to Palatinate previously was shared in good faith, and the University has now clarified its position.” Durham University
A Durham University spokesperson said: “The University makes an offer of accommodation to all new undergraduates who request it. Many of the undergraduates offered accommodation at Sheraton Park have expressed a preference for self-catered accommodation. Sheraton Park is roughly 15-minutes’ walk from Van Mildert and St Aidan’s colleges, and students from those colleges living at Sheraton Park will have access to the same levels of support as students at other sites. Sheraton Park offers high-quality accommodation, and we look forward to our new undergraduates demonstrating positive citizenship and building warm neighbourly relationships with both postgraduate students at Ustinov and local residents.”
“Information supplied to Palatinate previously was shared in good faith, and the University has now clarified its position.”
Image Credit: Abigail Tobias
