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Update: NTU has decided to allow more students to live in its dorms.

Nanyang Technological University is recalculating its decision to evict students from its dormitories after a surprise email telling residents to vacate in two weeks sparked an online uproar and a petition. 

The university, or NTU, whose residential halls have been home to numerous students both foreign and local, told ������ today that it had to review the number of students allowed to live in its dorms for the academic year starting next month in compliance with unspecified safe management measures and in light of  “exceptionally strong demand for hall places.”

Emails telling students in the wee hours of yesterday to vacate the premises by July 15 reportedly prompted some to scramble for new accommodation or sign an online NTU then decided to reconsider the number of students it was letting in dorms, citing the good vaccination rate as its reason. 

“However, with vaccinations now well underway and a good vaccination rate expected, as well as other safe management measures that we intend to apply, we are currently reviewing the capacity to allow more students to stay on campus,” it said. “More updates will be provided in the next few days.”

After this article was published, NTU said that it was allowing more students to live in its dorms. They include first- and second-year students who were originally guaranteed a two-year stay, as well as international students currently living in its residence halls.

“As per previous years, any new vacancies arising from those who change their minds about staying on campus will be offered to unsuccessful applicants through balloting at a later date,” the statement said. “We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will continue to review the hall capacity to allow more students to stay on campus, where possible. Applicants will progressively be informed if a hall place is allocated to them.”

NTU also said that they “regret that we are unable to accommodate all hall applicants.”

The university’s student union said on Instagram yesterday that it was with the institution. 

More than 5,000 people signed the online petition Hall Eviction faced by NTU Students, International Students Homeless in 15 days. Among those affected were international students and students “guaranteed two years of Hall stay,” the petition page said. 

“International Students who are unable to return home amidst the Covid-19 restrictions will be evicted from their rooms on the 15th of July 2021. There are many other students who are deserving of hall stay but did not receive the room allocations,” it said. 

It added: “This petition hopes that NTU and the Housing Auxiliary Service, will rightfully reconsider the THOUSANDS of students impacted by their inability to properly allocate student housing, and consider the welfare of the students who are returning the following academic year.”

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