ROME – International students attending the University of Cassino have been forced to sleep in parks due to the lack of accommodation, student representative Luigi Gaglione said.

 Gaglione confronted the rector of the university Marco Dell’Isola on Tuesday during the inauguration ceremony for the academic year.

 Dell’Isola claimed that the university was an attractive prospect for foreign students, which Galgione refuted, saying that foreign students were sleeping in parks and in the municipal villa.  

 He went on to say that accommodation was unaffordable and those who had won scholarships had not yet received money and were unsure when they’d be awarded it, leading them to also struggle with accommodation. He added politicians needed to do more to help students who are trying to "build a future in our country."

 Although the president of the region, Francesco Rocca, had been present at the ceremony, he left while Gaglione spoke to visit a nearby factory.

 Regional councillor, Sara Battisti of the Democratic Party said there was “a total lack of listening” and criticised Rocca for not doing more to help resolve the situation.

 khg