Student and Christmas

The university student really don't need to be on campus because there lessons are all virtual . So they could be at home studying . Although they still decided to live in communal living and have a party life style . So who's thought is it if they miss out on Christmas . They all know there is a virus out there but the majority of them are still ignoring the restrictions in force .

I think most of the students are probably freshers (1st Years) who go to uni a week earlier than the rest, the idea being they can get to know the university campus, meet other young people at specially planned social events, and make friends. I don’t see virtual events as cutting the mustard. These youngsters may be away from home for the first time and feeling home sick - I know I was. They need to get out and about to overcome this, and being told they cannot go home for Christmas will make them feel worse. If I had a son or daughter in this position and they needed to come home I would fetch them.

In the US cases rose when universities restarted. It should have been taken not of in the U.K. and better plans put in place. Universities just want the money and in many cases haven’t made proper provision for the youngsters.

I have some sympathy what you write LuckyFour.
Here's a radical plan - the students could use this isolation time to do some actual studying. I am presuming that they have some books or online resources they could use even it is only background reading.

No sympathy with them at all, its just one Christmas in a lifetime. I didn't see any gap year students rushing home for Christmas Dinner in the ten years I was traveling. They need to put it down as an experience.

I'm another one who thinks students could be tested before they go home - but that will mean enough tests being a available. I also agree with M0nica, here in the North East we are back on strict lockdown, we can't meet with other families or friends either in our homes or outside but we can go into a pub - the instructions get more ludicrous.

LuckyFour

Not Christmas, but this weekend's student issue.....
I was feeling really down yesterday after hearing that students have not been able to have their party week during their first week of term. Oh poor them I thought! The over 70s love a party as much as anyone and we have had no parties since last Christmas due to the pandemic. We have been stuck at home trying to live our lives without catching a potentially fatal illness. I'm really fed up of selfish people who insist on doing whatever they want regardless of the impact this could have on anyone they come in contact with. We are the ones who have to remain in lockdown while others please themselves.

But it's us who will suffer most LuckyFour not the students. Most of them could have the virus and get over it with no long term effects, whereas a lot of over 70s would snuff it. So logically they should be allowed to party and mix as they wish just then stay away from older people.

The little shop I work in have mainly older people in. The majority have said theyve talked with their grandchildren who've agreed they would rather have one christmas apart than never have one with them again.

Christmas is three months away, much will change. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is all we’ve got at the moment. Surely we can all survive one miserable Christmas in a lifetime.

Who will pay for the extra time housed and fed either in hall or in rented accommodation?

Maybe some students will be chuffed not having to go home for Christmas! Not having to listen to Great Aunt Sybil absent minded ramblings, parents wanting to know all your business etc. No dry turkey, no revolting Christmas pudding, no evening spent watching boring BBC repeats etc etc.

Why were they sent in the first place?
Online tuition, no library or other facilities and very expensive hall of residence fees for little more than a prison cell - they might just as well stayed at home and done the course from there in comfort.

As someone who lives Nextdoor to a halls of residence I think it might de a good idea just to let the students mix in the halls but kept away from the public. If they catch the virus and become sick they will be very well looked after.

The virus was already spreading when they came at the weekend so what did they think was going to happen!. The really clever ones packed their bags (again) and went home when they were told that they were going into lockdown.
Last week they were seen gathering in groups of up to 30 and completing ignoring the rule of 6 and people were complaining about it.
If they have to remain in their halls over Christmas so be it. They are 18 yrs old, all adults and like someone else has said if they were in the army they would have to obey the rules.

We cannot risk students going home at Christmas and possibly spreading the virus on to their family and friends. They all have laptops and phones and are able to connect to their family and friends and then there’s Zoom.

We are all having to make sacrifices and that includes the students.

Why were they sent in the first place?

Sent? Who sent them? They had the choice. Its a terrible situation but nobody sent them.

The English university where I worked has term end date of 11 December, just enough time for students to isolate and be free at Xmas.

If you had paid £9000 fees for a term (that's without accommodation) wouldn't you expect more than some on-line tutoring?

Oh dear, we've got enough trouble coping with the virus, without all this moaning and groaning. Maybe the government have made some bad decisions, but nobody knew exactly what to do, it is a unique situation. Will everyone stop being so mardy and get on with it!

M0nica

There is a simple solution. End term a full fortnight before Christmas. Test each student before they go home. Those witha negative test result go home, those with a positive test, do their, up to two weeks, quarantine, are retested and all being well, go home. Special arrangements can be made for the handful locked down for Christmas to be together and have a happy and festive Christmas eve - boxing day.

I fully agree with M0nica

trisher
I know that there are foreign students present studying at the moment in at least one uni.

I fear for the awful awful mis-managemnet of our Country - De Pfeffle and co have made a real pigs ear of it, can't answer anything properly, and I reckon will be long gone by this time next year, leaving Gove in charge.

My gs should be in Uni, but he dropped out, couldn't bear the thought of being stuck so far from us all in case anything happened, he's very close to his brothers and sisters and the thought of spending the holidays alone for him was awful as he suffers massively from anxiety.
He tried to get to his cahms sppt but found out via a friend that they have all been cancelled without him even knowing, because they haven't got the funding, so, back on another waiting list to be seen as his panic attacks are so so scary for him.
It took us two years for his first appointment.
I personally don't care about my own problems, I'm easy, but thinking what our kids and grandkids are going through right now, its soul destroying.
They deserve so much better...so much better. How anyone could fall for the lies this govt spun, and we've not even started to feel those wonderful Brexit effects yet!
Its not fair.

It’s a crazy world.
They were allowed to go = complaints about “sending them off to mingle in large numbers because that’s what students do will spread the virus.”
They should have been stopped from going to Uni! =Shouts of “the government is ruining their education.”
They shouldn’t go home at Christmas=shouts of “they’re keeping them imprisoned!” (some actually put up posters saying HMP)
They should be allowed to go home for Christmas= Shouts of “they’re saying it’s OK for those young folk to spread the virus among their families!”
What would all GN have done? Could we reach an agreement on here about the right way to do it?

My GS was advised by his tutor to return this year to finish his Masters, which will mostly be on-line, because the situation might not have improved next year. How depressing

Mollygo

It’s a crazy world.
They were allowed to go = complaints about “sending them off to mingle in large numbers because that’s what students do will spread the virus.”
They should have been stopped from going to Uni! =Shouts of “the government is ruining their education.”
They shouldn’t go home at Christmas=shouts of “they’re keeping them imprisoned!” (some actually put up posters saying HMP)
They should be allowed to go home for Christmas= Shouts of “they’re saying it’s OK for those young folk to spread the virus among their families!”
What would all GN have done? Could we reach an agreement on here about the right way to do it?

Mollygo ✔️✔️✔️

homefarm

Why were they sent in the first place?
Online tuition, no library or other facilities and very expensive hall of residence fees for little more than a prison cell - they might just as well stayed at home and done the course from there in comfort.

Because they wanted to live away from home and have the freedom of lots of partying, drinking and sex

mokryna there may be a few foreign students here (probably they never went home) but the majority of the foreign students in my local universities (who pay huge fees) come from Eastern countries. The loss of income for the UK runs into millions. This is an interesting article www.britishcouncil.org/research-policy-insight/insight-articles/future-UK-host-east-asian-students
Apparently one of the real things Asian students find off-putting is our reluctance to wear masks at all times. It is regarded by them as a social duty.

Yes, manchester students,who are living in halls, are being confined there,now,by security and police, they hadnt,as of yesterday, been given any details, told how theyre going to get food,etc, or let go to classes, my sons friend goes there, but he lives in salford in rented flat, so he tried deliver food as he works for uber part time, but had to leave it with security guy- he said the ones who live off- campus also havent been given any advice as to wether to come to classes! So theyre all,in effect,paying over 9k to be kept locked up.and apparently starved.Luckier for my son, he decided on one nearer home, but hes not gone back yet, as the risks are too high where his uni is.

Sparlefizz, theyre NOT all there for all the partying,drinking&sex, some unis only offer certain courses, so they apply where the course they want to do is! Like my sons friend,(whose girlfriend has gone there too) but if he had been doing same course as my son, theyd probably both be at one nearer home!