Following on from a successful AGM. The Student’s Union are taking the approved proposals and working on them during Change Week. For day 1 of Change Week, we are looking at: Rat Extermination

What is the proposal about?

The proposal was submitted to get the Students’ Union to lobby the university and local authorities to employ more effective policies towards pest control.

The proposal was submitted by Cheryl Chingosho, the Chair of Student Council. On the proposal, Cheryl said:

“Community health and safety is an area of great interest to me. As a biomedical scientist and current master’s in public health student, I am responsible for leveraging what I know to contribute to making our society and community spaces healthy.”

“There has been an increasing number of rats seen in our residential areas on the university campus, with at least two instances of rats found inside people’s homes lurking for food and shelter. Rat extermination is a big problem.”

“Looking back at the misfortunes caused by the covid pandemic, avoiding preventable diseases and containing the spread of potential diseases at a micro-community level can go a long way in the future.”

-Cheryl Chingosho

Why is the proposal important?

The proposal notes that under the 1911 Health Act, the University (as property owners of campus accommodation) must prevent the harbouring of rats at their property. Moreover, as Rats and mice are known to spread over 35 diseases which can infect both people and animals. Additionally, rats can weaken the structural integrity of buildings and can lead to power outages and in serious cases can cause a fire.

What are the Students’ Union doing to address the proposal?

• As part of Change Week, the Students’ Union are working on the proposal ready for Friday, where senior members of the university will hear proposals on how to take the actions going forward.

• In addition, the SU are collecting student feedback on Rat extermination on campus throughout the day.

• We will also be sending a letter to the local councillors for Treforest, to raise the prevalent issue which impacts USW and the wider Treforest area.

To keep up to date with Change Week make sure to keep up to date with our SU Social Media accounts.