Students return to no electricity, water
- Source: Global Times
- [15:49 March 01 2010]
- Comments
By Ye Jun and Zhou Ping
Students from the Network Education College of Fudan University returned to school for the new semester that begins today, only to find their dorms with no electricity or water supply.
Accommodations for 170 students were affected due to the contract disputes between Shanghai Fuhe Property Management Company and the Shanghai Zhongyu Culture and Arts Company.
On behalf of the college, the Fuhe Property Management Company rented the fourth floor of the building on No.120 Handan Road from the Zhongyu and used it as student dormitories since 2006.
Xu Ruzhong, from Zhongyu, revealed to the Global Times yesterday that an agreement was signed on January 10 this year to terminate their contract with Fuhe, which would have otherwise continued to be until the end of 2012.
Xu said that the move was out of safety concerns. “The building is not qualified to be student dormitories. We’ve been fined for over 300,000 yuan ($43,952) so far.”
The property management company disagrees. “We were tricked into signing that agreement. As soon as we found out the truth, we started re-negotiating with Zhongyu. We resolutely condemn their act of cutting off the electricity and water supply,” said Shen Qianhong, a spokesperson from Fuhe.
Shen added that out of legal concerns, her company currently reserves the right to remain silent on exactly how Zhongyu turned the tables. She told the Global Times that they have resorted to a lawsuit over the issue.
Shen also claimed that measures have been taken to re-accommodate the students. “Dormitories on No.1 North Zhongshan Road are now available. For those students who don’t wish to live on the main campus of Fudan, they can stay here free of charge for a week before they must find themselves a new place.”
A dozen students choose not to move. “The new dorms are farther away from the college and are not as well-equipped. There is no independent bathroom or air conditioner, but the yearly rent there is around 200 yuan ($29.3) cheaper,” according to a freshman surnamed Wang.
Electricity and water supply in their dormitories were turned back on after local police got involved.
