The authorities of Jagiellonian University in Krakow have decided to sell one of their newer dormitories, the 'Racławicka' student house, which had been used to accommodate refugees from Ukraine for the past two years. Companies specialising in the hotel industry and the rental of micro-apartments won the tender. This decision has sparked discontent among students, leading them to protest against the sale of 'Racławicka.'

The sale of the 'Racławicka' dormitory was not prompted by its condition. In fact, a comprehensive renovation was carried out just ten years ago, making it nearly brand new by Polish standards. Despite this, the university authorities opted to proceed with the sale, attracting significant interest from private investors due to the dormitory's prime location.

In addition to its excellent location, the ‘Racławicka’ student house is highly valued for its excellent room layout. Most rooms are singles, with the kitchen and bathroom shared by only one other person—a rare setup compared to most student halls of residence across the country, where multiple rooms typically share communal kitchen and bathroom facilities located in the corridor. Students are concerned that the sale of the dormitory will lead to a shortage of accommodation options for them.

The ‘Racławicka’ dormitory attracted interest from several institutions, including the Krakow University of Economics and the University of National Education Commission in Krakow. However, the winning bid came from Indexmetropolis Inwestycje and INDEX Biuro Podróży, both companies specialising in the hotel industry and micro-apartment development. This outcome has raised alarms among students, who fear that the dormitory will be converted into a micro-apartment complex, further reducing available student housing.

The students of Jagiellonian University may have accurately predicted the intentions of the investor who purchased the 'Racławicka' dormitory. According to Gazeta Wyborcza, one of the queries made by the new owner involved the possibility of installing energy meters in each room. This has led to concerns that the investor plans to convert the rooms into micro-apartments. Additionally, students are voicing their frustration that the university is selling off a high-quality student residence in exchange for one of much lower standards.

In 'Racławicka', up to 86% of the rooms were singles, each equipped with a private bathroom and kitchenette. In contrast, the new accommodation available to students features almost 90% double rooms, most without a kitchenette. Another issue is that only students from Collegium Medicum are guaranteed places in the dormitories, leaving students from other faculties worried about a potential shortage of available rooms.

"We're already facing a shortage of dormitory places, so I find it even harder to understand why the university decided to sell. I’m also puzzled by the decision to reserve ‘Racławicka’ only for students from the Medical College. There’s a constant lack of accommodation in my faculty," said Gosia, a student at Jagiellonian University, in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza.

Przemysław, from the Warsaw Youth Circle of Workers’ Initiative, who brought attention to the sale of ‘Racławicka’ in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, expressed hope that the transaction could still be halted. The sale is not yet finalised, as it requires approval from the University Council and the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Poland, which oversees state property.

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza