MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Honestly, can’t imagine what it must be like for teachers.
Well I'm about to half my second week off school due to the wife catching a cold of me that turned out to be covid!! (I know I know we cant be sure, she could have got it from her school)
Absolute disgrace how this is being handled by the unis. Completely forseeable that this is how it would play out. As I understand it most have some level of inline learning, so obviously they just wanted the students back for the halls rent. Where is the transparency?
Reports of students being physically locked in by security - if true, this is a criminal offence.
Absolutely shocking the way they have been treated. Entirely predictable, and the unis don't seem to have any sketch of a plan as to how to deal with it. The whole term (at least) is going to be completely ****ed, they should have stayed away.
I don't predict this ending well, students do love a good protest march and I certainly think they've got every reason to be angry.
As I've said before mines in student accommodation but goes to Northern Ballet School. So private accommodation, not affiliated to the university. Being dance they are still attending school, she's 16 so no way I'm letting her get locked down in halls. She's been home for the weekend and has gone back today with instructions to keep on walking if if looks like the accomodation is locked down on returning from classes and call us. Unlike most students they have classes from 9am to 6pm and stay within the confines of the dance school, they aren't even allowed out to get a sandwich at lunch time. Many of the other students commute in.
Anyone challenges this and I'm applying the Cummings defence of doing what I think is best for my family.
so obviously they just wanted the students back for the halls rent
It’s more than that… if they had taken an honest ‘online learning only’ approach around the time of the A Level results, many many students would have deferred, and they would have lost fees not just rent this year… the way we fund universities would have meant a decimation of University learning and research provision for years to come. They should have been more realistic and transparent… but they couldn’t be without backing from a government who absolutely weren’t prepared to do so… and even now are pretending that the problems associated with the return to onsite learning are some unexpected surprise that they couldn’t plan for… it’s on them, not the Universities and schools.
She’s been home for the weekend and has gone back today with instructions to keep on walking if if looks like the accomodation is locked down on returning from classes and call us.
I am 100% behind you on that, but it will be happening all round the country, what a **** up.
Agree, this problem was entirely predictable and the government should have had support in place.
That said, students aren't the only group suffering financially and not getting what they expected to this year. Tough welcome to post school life for them.
I'd be wary of supporting/encouraging "protest" action by the students, however justified. A lot of other discontents could easily hijack it. Responsibility and lockdowns where required are necessary, sadly.
I’d be wary of supporting/encouraging “protest” action by the students, however justified. A lot of other discontents could easily hijack it.
Probably, students might be the tip of the iceberg, protests in London were put down yesterday. There's been a lot of legislation passed over the last 6 months with very little scrutiny, back bench Tories and Labour are waking up to this.
But, he said, since then 50 laws with potential and actual criminal sanctions had come into force, without Parliament having a say.
- John Bercow.
I'd like to know the legality of penning students up in halls, which bit of specific legislation makes this acceptable and why security guards are actively enforcing it. I can imagine a lot of students don't have anywhere near enough food to last 2 days yet alone 2 weeks. Maybe they universities should have contingencies in place for this, not just getting in a few mobile food vans. I can also see this leading to people avoiding testing, especially students.
Of course they can't legally pen students up in halls. They may be able to punish students who leave their accommodation when they are supposed to be self-isolating.
I can also see this leading to people avoiding testing
Why get a test for mild symptoms if it blocks up your household for 2 weeks?
That should be lock, not block!!
A-A works either way!
Of course they can’t legally pen students up in halls.
So why is there security on some of the halls preventing students leaving?
Noticeably few students in Edinburgh city centre compared to last week
Why get a test for mild symptoms if it blocks up your household for 2 weeks
In the case of my daughter and the rest of her household it was to confirm that it was indeed CV and that they could isolate with good reason.... Rather than a hunch.
After the isolation they could then show the uni that they had done everything they should and should therefore not have to isolate again.
(8 of the 12 in her house have tested positive and the other 4 have symptoms)
Unfortunately their arguement that they have already isolated for the mandated period has fallen on deaf ears - so after the MMU enforced lockdown they will have isolated for 28 days even though the uni told them that they could stop isolation tomorrow just a couple of hours before the gates were locked.
Edit:
And daughter had now been told that everyone within their halls/compound are now in a big bubble so they can mix - seems like they want to get everyone infected and cleared in one go, so that group may then not be subject to further isolation.
Maybe.
So why is there security on some of the halls preventing students leaving?
Because “overzealous” security don’t know the limits of their power.
Isn’t this obvious? No-one has the power to detain others against their will, except as a formal arrest - which for non-police is a legally fraught procedure that is liable to land you in hot water unless you are very sure of your ground.
Seems like the university concerned has realised their mistake now.
There are international students who are self isolating, due to travel conditions, they are contacted daily to see if they require anything but they seem to be well organised with supplies etc.
From having to do food deliveries to halls and student houses for the last week or so I've spotted that the international students (especially the Chinese ones) are taking things very seriously with regards to how they behave when accepting the orders. They will usually come down wearing masks and have a trolley that they wipe down before pushing it just outside the entrance door, we then load it up and they then pull it back in and go straight back up to their rooms. The food is all healthy stuff and cleaning products. Some even have a designated person in their group who will accept orders for a large group of them then leave it outside their individual rooms, it's really impressive to see.
Contrast that with the UK students who seem to be ordering just alcohol and other party supplies (had one or two with LOTS of specialist condoms and lubes!!) and ready meals. They mostly come down with no masks, don't socially distance from me (well, until I ask for ID for the booze then make them put it on the floor and step back) and regularly come down in big groups.
It's 100% a culture thing from my limited experience, I know which ones I prefer delivering to.
The captain - there are various powers under public health laws to allow people to be detained and isolated IIRC. The restriction on students might well have a legal basis under these laws
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/health-emergencies/england.php
A theoretical possibility sometimes TJ but in this case clearly a load of bollocks as the university has no such powers.
According to eldest_oab, the vast majority on their site have pulled back from partying. His flat are now avoiding others, eating together, socialising outdoors and generally being rather more supportive of each other.
The uni still won't unlock the lounge, so all 5 of them cram in the kitchen or someone's room.
They are on a green, out of town site, and so most are staying on site out of choice. I wonder if this will make a difference.
Security have stepped up over not breaching rule no.1.
In his building there's no new cases since 10 days ago when the one flat had it.
The problem is is the Uni can't do right. If they didn't step up security, you can guarantee there will be enough individuals who don't give a stuff, and go out partying with Covid (we've already had this) or round shops and infect the local population. Also what happens if one or two get really ill, again if Uni didn't do anything, then they would be in trouble.
The Uni's are following Government advice - the Govt wanted all schools, Colleges and Uni's back.
It's a mess.
I also wouldn't take too much of what's in the press as being correct. There has been a huge response over the weekend from my Uni, negotiating directly with Asda to sort out food deliveries, support for each flat from staff, as well as various activities all being organised. The speed of the shutdown caught everyone out, but there are mountains being moved to look after the students.
Hard done by student on 'This Morning' now and her parents - no mention of all the support going in this week for the students, and we have the local Asda involved in food deliveries - not 'a couple of extra slots'.
I agree fossy - we do have a (big) issue, but there is a response happening and quickly.
I think my frustration sits some somewhere between some students not observing rule no.1 and the fact that lots of this was predictable...
Very predictable - I said to my colleagues, wait for the poop to hit the fan in late September once the students are back - the Government knew this. It's why most of us 'back office' staff weren't allowed back on site - give as much space for students and those that need to be in.
The Uni has put loads in place for the student's over the weekend.
I think my frustration sits some somewhere between some students not observing rule no.1 and the fact that lots of this was predictable…
My frustration is 100% that the media has completely deflected a shitload of blame onto students and universities away from those in government.
Agree with @flossy. My Uni has emergency food parcels, bedding etc packages if you are an international student and need to self-isolate on arrival, food deliveries to halls etc etc. None of that is being reported, and we currently only have a smallish problem!
The gap between what universities are doing, and what students are experiencing, is real, not imagined by students or the media. Communication: Universities aren’t as good at it as they tend to imagine. Not knowing what is going on isn’t unusual for a first year. Not being able to contact your named advisor or tutor before Xmas isn’t unusual either. Students so often fill in the gaps in information when mingling together with others studying the same courses… without this going on many students won’t have the foggiest what is going on.
My frustration is 100% that the media has completely deflected a shitload of blame onto students
While you are right, we do need to look at a few Muppets and hold them to account.
The flat which was CV19 positive in my son's hall is the 'party flat'. A party nightly with anything up to 50 students cramming into their rooms and kitchen for first 10 days of term. On top of which it emerges that one of them returned from a family holiday in Spain the day before she moved in, another felt ill but came anyway as he was so desperate to be at Freshers week, and didn't take a test so he couldn't be accused of knowing he was positive....
So yes, 200+ in the building going about normally, two being utterly selfish. They need to be called out.
no mention of all the support going in this week for the students
I agree to an extent fossy, the media have had a field day with this.
But only this morning I asked my daughter what the "regular updates" {as stated on the MMU website} were saying and she said that they had received absolutely zero information from the uni - 4 days after the lockdown.
Not impressive when you consider that this is the first time the vast majority of the students have been away from home and are justifiably confused and a bit worried.
A daily email offering support and an update on progress - even if it's just "we're working on it and will have more info for you very soon" - would not have taken long to do.
That said, this evening they've had an email stating that they're getting 2 weeks accommodation refunded, a £50 voucher for, presumably, Asda and info on free laundry and some other little bits. Obviously my daughter has already mentally spent this on alcohol and clothes seeing as I popped over today with a load of food shopping for her!
🤦🏻♂️
Its nuts, entirely predicted. Its like the gov just wanted the virus to rip through the 18-21 uni demographic early in autumn so they don't take it home to Gran at xmas. Easier to keep them all penned up in halls.
While you are right, we do need to look at a few Muppets and hold them to account.
Glad someone else thinks this.
Its like the gov just wanted the virus to rip through the 18-21 uni demographic early in autumn so they don’t take it home to Gran at xmas.
Given the predictability, as Baldrick style cunning plans go, it's a pretty good one. Just a shame the unis weren't informed, prepared and supported, rather being dumped with it.
Given the predictability, as Baldrick style cunning plans go, it’s a pretty good one. Just a shame the unis weren’t informed, prepared and supported, rather being dumped with it.
Well its what you get when you set them up for a decade competing against each other for students instead of sharing them through specialism.
Then have them stare at the abyss of no income, so compete aggressively on f2f contact and have no choice but to follow the bare minimum of "government guidance" so they can survive the year.
They knew full well what was coming, and can blame if squarely on successive governments especially this shamble and their "guidance".
They won't be issuing any refunds unless "government guidance" changes and they are bailed out.
Its what ANY capitalist business would do - its what our universities have become.
You should never mix education with profit.
Its like the gov just wanted the virus to rip through the 18-21 uni demographic early in autumn so they don’t take it home to Gran at xmas.
Given the predictability, as Baldrick style cunning plans go, it’s a pretty good one...
Although not without it’s risks. There seems to be growing acceptance that a significant minority are affected by ‘long Covid’ symptoms.... maybe not in the 18-21 demographic, but who knows if there are any long-term effects.
So we’ve heard from our son in Cambridge halls mmu today that they are being sent home test kits and will be let out if negative. Although this goes against the logic of isolating for 2 weeks after high risk exposure regardless of test results, but will presumably have been agreed as a face saver by someone. This and the 2 week rent rebate and shopping voucher make it almost a win-win.
And for those that do Twitter, his arch satire placard was photographed and got some appreciation so he’s happy : Pic number 4
A manchester law firm has submitted legal papers to the uni about false imprisonment and compo for students all for free to students.
And for those that do Twitter, his arch satire placard was photographed and got some appreciation so he’s happy
hope he's not studying English literature
Bruneep.... fine art of course, can’t you tell?
Re the testing...
Actually I was misinformed... they aren’t going to be let out early. If they are all neg then isolate till 9th. If whole flat pos then isolate till tenth. Any negs that live with pos will have to start 14 days again...
Heard from daughter yesterday and she's had an email from MMU saying that she can now move around freely as she tested positive and has completed her self isolation.
So they've changed their stance on that.
Isolation is shorter if positive test- 10 days instead of 14- was she isolating before the mass lockdown started?
My son recons that over half will test positive
5 days on campus and looks highly likely there is a case in my lad's block of 12 people. So no CX National Trophy for him this weekend....
Isolation is shorter if positive test- 10 days instead of 14- was she isolating before the mass lockdown started?
Yes, tested positive with a housemate a fortnight ago which would have meant her isolation would have been (and confirmed by the uni) over on Monday - just in time to take her driving test on Tuesday morning.
The mass lockdown put paid to that.
Well that seems unfair sharkbait... known positives are easy to deal with.
Meanwhile I hear an SNP mp travelled from (I presume) Scotland to London while waiting for a test result and back again knowing she was positive, yet students are the irresponsible ones...🙄