Swedish students irked by housing comments

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STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Erik Pederson, vice chairman of Sweden's Student Unions, sharply criticized Ulf Perbo, an official who suggested students don't need kitchens or common rooms.

Perbo, a top aide to Sweden's housing minister, was quoted by a construction trade magazine as saying students don't need those facilities in their university-provided housing, The Local.se reported Friday.

"If you want to simplify building rules, student housing is the first place to start," Perbo said. "It's not a life-threatening catastrophe."

The comments angered Pederson.

"This shows the attitude that students are second-class citizens," he said. "We are not lab rats,"

Housing Minister Stefan Attefall said his aide's comments were misunderstood.

"The quotes are exaggerated and not presented in context," he said.