PROBLEMS CONTINUE to plague Moray House, the University of Edinburgh’s School of Education, with complaints over a lack of study space and expensive food.

Students at the campus, who launched the Free Range Teachers Campaign last year to raise awareness about a lack of study and social space, remain dissatisfied and feel the university has been unresponsive to their complaints.

PROBLEMS CONTINUE to plague Moray House, the University of Edinburgh’s School of Education, with complaints over a lack of study space and expensive food.

Students at the campus, who launched the Free Range Teachers Campaign last year to raise awareness about a lack of study and social space, remain dissatisfied and feel the university has been unresponsive to their complaints.

“There’s a lack of contact with students and a lack of respect for their concerns,” Ross MacRae, a second year student at Moray House and EUSA Executive Academic Services Convener, told Student.

He says conditions at the campus “simply aren’t good enough.”

Last year’s campaign for more study and social space followed news that students had to sit outside in the car park to study and chat due to the lack of facilities.

Campaigners were innovative, with some dressing up as chickens and others giving out chocolate eggs to gain the attention of the university and their fellow students.

However, with the start of a new academic year, little seems to have changed at Moray House.

Charter’s Land, one of several buildings incorporated in the campus, is being renovated, and it is hoped that this will improve facilities and create more space.

The current situation, however, remains a tight squeeze for Moray House’s 2,000 students.

Closure of one floor of the library has exacerbated a shortage of study space and computers, with many students moving to the roomier main library.

Another cause for complaint is the price of food and drink at Paterson’s Land Café.

“A cup of tea is £1 at Paterson’s,” says Masters student Gemma Carey. “That seems excessive when it’s only 70p at the Pleasance.”

Unlike the Pleasance and Potterow outlets, which are EUSA run, the Paterson’s Land Café is run by Edinburgh First and charges VAT.

Many students are opting to eat and study at the cheaper and more spacious Pleasance Bar in an informal boycott.

Ross Mac Rae, who played a leading role in last year’s campaign, has contacted the Educational Institute of Scotland, the world’s oldest teaching union, about ongoing problems at Moray House.

He said: “If things don’t improve, we would consider planning another protest, but I hope these issues can be resolved through talks between the university and students.”