Students want ACLO to refund them
Students want ACLO to refund them
Door Giulia Fabrizi
By Giulia Fabrizi
Giulia Fabrizi
Van uit de hand gelopen studentenfeestjes tot bezette universiteitsgebouwen en van kamertekorten tot dreigende bezuinigingen: Giulia houdt al het nieuws in de gaten. Ze praat graag met de mensen die het aangaat, schrijft erover en begeleidt freelancers bij het maken van nieuwsartikelen. Eerder werkte ze als stadsredacteur Groningen en gemeenteverslaggever Haren voor Dagblad van het Noorden.‘It’s not about the basic ACLO subscription, but rather the extra rate I paid to attend the gym’, says psychology student Daniel Anadria (23). He created a petition for the refund on Tuesday, and so far, it’s been signed by twenty-two people.
Students who want to work out in the fitness centre have to pay for a Fitness Card on top of their regular ACLO membership. ‘But the corona crisis has prevented me from using the gym’, says Anadria.
Alternatives
He understands that the ACLO had been doing everything it can to set up alternatives during corona, but he has not seen any alternatives to the gym. He’s also upset that the sports centre has barely responded to his complaints, if at all.
‘All they told me was that the ACLO doesn’t do refunds and that they provide alternative online classes. I specifically joined to go to the gym, so a class doesn’t work for me.’
Anadria paid fifty euros for an ACLO pass and another forty to make use of the gym for a semester. ‘It may not sound like much, but I don’t have any disposable income. I have four different jobs and as an international student, I don’t get any financing’, he says.
Evaluation
Hendrike Schut, director at the sports centre, says she understands Anadria’s situation. ‘When the measures went into effect, we had no idea how long they would last or what their effects would be. We’ve emailed our members to let them know we’ll be evaluating the situation over the summer.’
They’ll be looking at their legal recourse and what they feel is reasonable regarding refunds. ‘Someone using the gym is in another boat than someone who also takes group classes’, says Schut.
She couldn’t say whether this means that Anadria and others will get a refund for their Fitness Card.