THE DISCIPLINE of students living in Dundee University accommodation has suffered a “total breakdown” according to some staff at the institution.

Last month the university—in the wake of a report nationally warning of a significant rise in the number of serious attacks on university staff—denied having any problems with student discipline.

According to the study, universities and colleges around the country have recorded more than 1000 incidents in which members of staff were victims of students’ aggression over the past five years.

Many institutions reported, however, that they had not recorded any incidents at all in the past five years.

As a result it was suggested that some universities are not taking the issue seriously enough and the figures could represent merely the tip of an iceberg as many staff are afraid to speak out and incidents often go unreported.

However, the report concentrated on the relationship between students and academic staff, and according to some non-academic workers at Dundee University they face a daily nightmare when dealing with students on campus.

A member of the janitorial staff who looks after student halls said, “We couldn’t believe it when we read the piece in The Courier when the university said there was no problems with student discipline.

“It has gone from bad to terrible in the past two years especially. There is absolutely no discipline—nothing is being said to the students when they misbehave, no letters, nothing.

“It’s not just the usual student high jinks we are talking about either, there have been lots of serious incidents including violent assaults on other students and members of staff.”

The man went on to say that staff have repeatedly requested greater liaison between university management, the student welfare department and police.

The university last year transferred all its student accommodation to Sanctuary Management Services.

Although Sanctuary are responsible for the running of the student halls they have no power to take action against students and can only refer them to the university authorities.

The janitorial staff say the lack of direct communication between the two bodies means that serious problems are not dealt with effectively.

A spokeswoman for the university issued a statement saying, “The university works closely with Sanctuary Management Services on any matters relating to the welfare of these staff as they would with other personnel associated with the university.

“Any specific allegation would be investigated and appropriate action taken in accordance with standard university procedure.”