Question 1

What is a Hall Safety Ambassador, and do I have to live on campus to be one?

Accepted Answer

Yes, HSAs must currently live in campus housing. The role involves filling out a weekly Google Form reporting on living conditions in your building and flagging issues via group chat or Slack. Meeting attendance is not required, making it one of the lowest time-commitment leadership positions in the org.

Question 2

Can filing a maintenance request or reporting to EH&S get me in trouble with Cal Housing?

Accepted Answer

No. Maintenance is included in the contract you signed with Cal Housing, so you are within your rights to request repairs. If an issue goes unresolved, you are also within your rights to report it to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

Question 3

What kinds of issues does UHRO actually help with?

Accepted Answer

UHRO covers a wide range of habitability concerns: lack of hot water, broken or malfunctioning heaters, visible mold, leaks, peeling paint, pests, broken elevators, laundry machines, and excessive noise. Ready-made email templates for each of these issues are available on the Action page.

Question 4

What do I actually gain from being a General Member beyond using the resources?

Accepted Answer

General Members get opportunities to meet with campus leadership, gain experience in policy, advocacy, research, and change management consulting, and be part of a community working on a concrete campus issue.

Question 5

What happens if Cal Housing still doesn't fix my issue after I report it?

Accepted Answer

UHRO guides students through escalation steps: reporting to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, requesting a building inspection, and, for serious cases, connecting with legal resources including Bay Area Legal Aid, Small Claims Court, and UC Berkeley Student Legal Services.

University Housing Rights Organization