In front of the AF-building, the line is getting filled with students looking for a place to stay this semester. Tomorrow morning the doors will open to Arrival day.
For those exchange students who have not been able to find housing until now, leftover housing is the only option left that the university’s International Housing Office can provide. These are given to those who stand first in line, who are now crowding out of the AF-castle, when Arrival Day will open its doors tomorrow.
According to current figures, there are 120 living spaces available.
– The university’s end is also putting together all of the living accomodations to see how many they can give away tomorrow, says Lus, Lund University’s student union cooperative’s vice chairman Emma Ljungmark.
First in line is Nicolas Delanoe and Antoine Pelliccia from southern France who plan on studying at LTH this fall.
– Are there that many; well that’s a relief. That means we’re safe, says Nicolas Delanoe.
They arrived around eleven on Monday morning, and have been in Sweden over the past week.
– We first lived at hostels, but after a few days, we got hold of housing with a young man. But I think we can only stay there until Wednesday, so we hope we can get hold of something good tomorrow, says Antoine Pelliccia and continues:
– We have probably sent 90 emails to different advertisements on Blocket and Bopoolen, but we haven’t received a response yet. People seem to be afraid of us exchange students.
The afternoon confirmed what was once just a rumor. For the first time, students are allowed to sleep inside of the castle entrance. Two guards will keep them company to ensure their safety.
Students were allowed in to Café Athen at 8 ‘o clock to be first in line for the morning.
– They will have to carry both luggage and sleeping spaces inside the café, says Susanna Hansson, student coordinator for the City of Lund.
Lovisa Nelson also explains that emergency housing has now been approved by the fire station. She will prepare and install beds during the morning in order to open the living space for those don’t find a place to stay at the other areas.
— There will be a total of 15 beds that will be provided for six weeks, says Lovisa, who is responsible for this housing area.
Per Gustafson stands in the portal to the castle at around eight‘0 clock and briefs the situation before nighttime.
Restrooms are open in the café and there are some food for the once waiting.
– We couldn’t have them staying outside all night, considering the weather this past days with lots of rain. That would have been completely inappropriate. After all, we do want the students to have a place to stay, says Per Gustafson.
To be sure that everyone who sleep on site are students, the guards will confirm around 10 ‘o clock that the people staying here have proof of their student status with them.
– But if you are accompanied by girlfriends and so on then it should be okay. At that point, it will be their responsibility to take care of themselves, says Maria Johansson, International desk manager at the university. She continues:
– It’s almost like a rock concert, where everyone is waiting in line for a ticket.
Text: Jacob Hederos
Translation: An Holmqvist
