Written by Martina Farrugia and Luke Muscat
Last week, Campus Hub announced a drastic increase in their parking fees, with students and student organisation’s taking to social media to voice their disapproval with this decision and urging stakeholders to reconsider. Students and organisations joined forces to protest against these prices, with a protest going by the name of ‘Students Over Profit‘ set to take place on Friday, 4 November.
These new parking fees were to become effective immediately from November 1, however, Campus Hub announced on the same day that they were going to change their prices again. University of Malta students won’t be subject to the increased parking prices and would only have to pay €3 for a full days’ worth of parking, as long as they present proof that they are students at the University.
Even though the parking prices have gone down, the protest will still happen, with Giuseppe Gatt, Secretary General of GħSL stated, “the parking fee increase was just the straw that broke the camel’s back“.
The Four Protest Principles That Organisations Support
Different organisations, including The Third Eye, met together and decided on the below principles:
- The University conceded land to a private entity, having had no consideration of the effect it will have on students it supposedly caters for. Universities lack of consultation with the students throughout the curation of the project vis-a-vis student services, wellbeing and budget has lead to rampant consumerism taking over student life. The outlets currently operating from Campus Hub vary from eateries to retail outlets, with little to no consideration made to students, their wellbeing and financial limitations. Amenities that would have reflected the students’ needs would be; a pharmacy, groceries and essentials store, a stationery and so on.
- Student organisations’ concerns do not solely lay in the lack of parking, Campus Hub Limited was intended to serve as an extension of the University of Malta Lija. Land was granted by UM for the building of what is today known as Campus Hub. It is now clear that initial intention centred around student accommodation was a pretext to commercialise student life at the core of University.
- The recent decision to increase parking tariffs and subsequently decrease them to €3 per day is a testament to Campus Hub’s failure to consider the people it needs, students. The newly published tariffs are nothing except an abuse of power by a private company withstanding the knowledge that parking at University is already a burden on all students. In view of this, coupled with the questionable activities it holds on its premises, it is inconceivable to think that such a project is to be embraced, or appreciated by students when time and time again, it betrays its initial aim and purpose.
- The overarching issue of lack of effective alternative methods of transportation available for students has lead students to become dependent on parking and has facilitated the abusive consumerism present in student life. Proposals include, a more efficient public transport system, increasing bike lanes and implementing safety measure to protect cyclists and the improvement of the parking situation on University grounds.
KSU’s Take On The Situation
Alex Gaglione, KSU‘s president, put forward her view in light of this situation. Campus Hub’s framework originally was initiated on springing back life within the university regions, since the pandemic suppressed the vibrant student life. Although student presence has become vigorous, primarily because of the easing of restrictions, the outlets within Campus Hub brought about certain undesired repercussions. One of them is the promotion of fast food consumption, whereas bodies like Starbucks can lead to income to be chipped off due to expensive prices.
Subsequent to the proposition of the protest occurring next Friday, KSU has decided to support the initiative. The retaliation was sparked not only because of the erratic parking prices, but also due to what the entire project has become.
Moreover, KSU highlighted how Campus Hub has contributed to the rampant commercialisation and how the projects is “pushing towards a car centric University when we should be doing the opposite“.
“The parking tariff increase was simply a consequence of a culmination of events, including the recent money drop, involving the rampant commercialisation of student life”
Alex Gaglione, to Lovin Malta
Moviment Graffitti’s Reaction
The facilities surrounding the University of Malta have become a capitalist social space that forces students to be consumers in order to make use of them. As the site of the last bookshop is proposed to turn into hotels, we question the representation of commercial outlets compared to spaces that foster more student-centred characteristics, such as bookshops, common areas and work areas. Campus Hub, a capitalist venture on public land with only profits in mind, has brought this fact into the limelight.
Moviment Graffitti went on to state that Campus Hub is going against what student life should be. They believe that this should be “a time for learning and exploring new viewpoints” and not pushing students to “mindlessly take part in the current status quo that ultimately aims to exploit students and workers“.
The organisation concluded with the following
The development of students into key players in society must be given priority over their perceived role as consumers and future workforce. We are therefore calling for the concession agreement for Campus Hub to be published, and ultimately for the space to be nationalised and run by the University in conjunction with students. The privatisation of the land has ensured that it can only be enjoyed as a consumer, when it could have been a prime social space. We are also demanding more direct and frequent bus routes to the University, as well as safe and efficient walking and cycling routes leading to University.
Chris Vassallo, Campus Hub CEO, Defends Project
Vassallo has pointed out the benefits that Campus Hub brings to students; with the premises being able to house 800 students, has a gym and pool, a laundry service, stationery and bookshop, and free WiFi.
A new medical school is also being built, but because of an inability to come to agreements with the authorities, construction has been put on hold.
Vassallo acknowledges the students’ right to protest, but wishes to have a meeting with KSU. Gaglione intends to accept the meeting invitation, but has made it clear that the organisation will not change its stand.
I’m not going to into a meeting to have my opinion swayed or to endorse anything that might come out of it
Alex Gaglione, to Lovin Malta
Protest Details
Protest will take place outside of Cakebox, on Friday 4 November, at 12:30.
The Third Eye has always been on the students’ side and will continue to do so in this protest