Nothing free at Shanghai dorms
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2004-10-29 09:06

Shanghai universities have outright denied the possibility of offering free hotel-like service at student dormitories, which is now available at an institute in neighboring Jiangsu Province.

The Nanjing University of Science and Technology began offering 16 types of free service at student dorms from this month, including dorm cleaning, post and delivery, and morning call.

Students living on campus can avail of the service by simply registering and they don't have to pay anything extra.

NUST officials said the service is designed to serve the students better and the university will provide more new items.

The free service is a big hit among students, gauging from the number of those who have registered - more than 100 in the past 20 days. Tire inflation and postal service are the most in demand, NUST said.

However, the trial drew an unfavorable response in Shanghai.

Yuan Chunfeng, a local mother, said such kinds of service, where youngsters are treated as royalty, will be of no good to them. "If they become used to being comfortably served now, how can they take care of themselves in the future."

Yao Yanyan, an official with the city's East China University of Science and Technology, said that the hotel-like service was a deviation from the university's purpose of grooming students who are independent and with all-round development.

Besides, the high cost of the service puts it beyond any university's reach, according to Zhu Keqin of Fudan University.

According to the Ministry of Education, universities can only charge each student no more than 1,200 yuan (US$145) for a 10-square-meter dorm room per year. Universities are unlikely to subsidize extra budget to provide hotel-like free service, Zhu said.

Currently, most local universities charge for services, such as laundry, on campus. Students use a pre-paid IC card to cover the expenses - 3 yuan each time.

But some students hire part-time domestic helpers, or their classmates, to do their cleaning and washing at a lower price - usually 1 yuan per item.

Students' response to the NUST trial was mixed.

"We know that we should learn to handle our own affairs. But it certainly would be nice to have someone do those tiring chores for you," said Zhu Lin, a local university student, adding the service will especially be welcomed by lazy male students.

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