Photo Johnny Dickens (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Amy Cousens, Leeds Socialist Students
“Excuse me, I’ve just read this and I agree with every word. Our landlord’s taking the piss with me and my housemates, how do I get involved with this?”
That was the response of just one person after taking my leaflet to become vice president for welfare at Leeds Beckett student union.
I have had one of the most visible campaigns on campus with banners calling for free education and affordable rents. The banners offended one letting agency so much they messaged my Facebook page explaining they wanted to ‘shed some light’ on the housing situation locally.
But we know all about the nightmare of student accommodation in Leeds. No wonder everyone’s had enough.
Students were particularly attracted to the idea that we would use the seat that the vice president for welfare has on the board of Unipol (the university lettings company) to push for lower rents.
Socialist Students is throwing all our energy into speaking to over a thousand students before voting takes place.
We’re confident that if we can get our ideas to enough students, we can make a real breakthrough at Leeds Beckett.
