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Original poster

Students thrown off course for throwing a party.

563 replies

Cotbedy · 07/03/2021 11:37

Basically, a load of students held a party of around 16/17 people. They got reported, they all got a £400 fine, apart from the host who got a £10,000 fine.

Then their Uni kicked them all off their courses for bringing the Uni into disrepute.

I think this is probably a fair and reasonable punishment, but DP thinks the Uni have gone too far and they're being unfair.

I'm curious to hear others' thoughts on the matter! Fair or unreasonable?

OP posts:
tava63 · 08/03/2021 23:33

Way too harsh on top of fine.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 08/03/2021 23:37

Unfair

But that’s Covid mania for you...

THEDEACON · 08/03/2021 23:44

Seems reasonable to me

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Higher education
ddl1 · 08/03/2021 23:45

On reflection, there may be an alternative logical penalty for most students who break rules about parties (though too late to apply to these).

They should be required to spend the two weeks after the party in strict isolation, like people who have returned from travel abroad. Stay in their rooms. No mixing with anyone at all; no going out to the shops. They can organize deliveries of essentials, but not in any way that endangers others, so they have to pay online, and must wait till a slot is available. After two weeks, get a Covid test, and if it's negative they can resume their normal lives according to what's permitted by the regulations.

If they are prepared to do this, then they can continue with their courses.

That applies to 'ordinary' participants in a party. Anyone who abuses, spits or coughs on security staff deserves summary expulsion.

fiveoldteddies · 08/03/2021 23:50

Double punishment does not seem fair. as someone mentioned most people will have broken rules and don't lose their jobs

Kazzyhoward · 09/03/2021 00:07

@ddl1

On reflection, there may be an alternative logical penalty for most students who break rules about parties (though too late to apply to these).

They should be required to spend the two weeks after the party in strict isolation, like people who have returned from travel abroad. Stay in their rooms. No mixing with anyone at all; no going out to the shops. They can organize deliveries of essentials, but not in any way that endangers others, so they have to pay online, and must wait till a slot is available. After two weeks, get a Covid test, and if it's negative they can resume their normal lives according to what's permitted by the regulations.

If they are prepared to do this, then they can continue with their courses.

That applies to 'ordinary' participants in a party. Anyone who abuses, spits or coughs on security staff deserves summary expulsion.

They already suffer that if one of their flatmates tests positive.

Anyway it's hardly a punishment - most are trapped in their flats/halls anyway as there's nothing to do and most places on campuses are closed are severely restricted.

Kazzyhoward · 09/03/2021 00:08

@fiveoldteddies

Double punishment does not seem fair. as someone mentioned most people will have broken rules and don't lose their jobs
And lots of people do break rules and do lose their jobs. Lots of jobs/professions kick you out if you get a serious criminal record.
Mamanyt · 09/03/2021 00:08

If all of the consequences were made known in advance, and I would be willing to bet that they were, then the action was entirely appropriate. If they were not, then I would be of the opinion that heavy fines and being told that further infractions would result in expulsion would be more appropriate.

numberoneson · 09/03/2021 00:25

I totally agree with previous posters - they knew they were doing wrong; serves them right to learn that actions have consequences. My very much beloved husband died last year of Covid-19. I'll never get over it. These students were happy to act in a way which put other people's lives at risk, and risked devastating more families with grief. I have zero sympathy for them.

Chewingle · 09/03/2021 05:52

Imagine all the students and indeed mumsnet posters if they’d been kicked out of university because they were at a party and smoked a joint.

Illegal. They would know illegal. So following logic of so many on here -should be kicked out

Localocal · 09/03/2021 07:21

Too harsh by far. Are adults who mix not only being fired from their jobs, but all their future jobs? Ruining their lives for one mistake is outrageous.

imyournextdoorneighbour · 09/03/2021 07:33

@icecreamgirl94

Yep reasonable in my opinion. It’s the entitled mentality that I can’t stand. I’ve seen so many posts from people on here saying they let their kids go out and mix with a bunch of others, go to each other’s houses because “kids have had to sacrifice too much this year”. Yeah, we all have. Well done for raising them to think they’re above the law.
^This. With knobs on.
imyournextdoorneighbour · 09/03/2021 07:36

What's with all the 'their whole lives are ruined' Pearl clutching? Oh yes. No one ever went to university after the age of 18 did they? No one ever improved their grades/took exams after leaving school either. Hmm

wonkylegs · 09/03/2021 07:55

As long as the university were clear that this could be a consequence then although it may seem harsh I think they haven't done anything wrong.
Your behaviour has consequences and universities have for many many many years enshrined that in their rules often quite harshly.
I'm in my 40's but remember a group of lads at my uni who broke the rules (only attracting a fine from the law) but we subsequently thrown off the course for harming the university's reputation. It was particularly harsh for one of them who was here on a student visa so ended up having to leave the country.
I also know of someone who almost got thrown off their course for not paying for a small amount cigarette damage to their room in halls - her dad stepped in at the last minute after lots of arguing.
The current rules are well known and well published and not obscurely hidden in anyway. They may not be fun, it may be hard but that doesn't change the fact that they are there.
Government ignoring their own is another matter and they should be judged for that not unis who are just doing what they have always done - enforce their rules.

CyberdyneSystems · 09/03/2021 08:03

The students must be very immature and extremely stupid

I think the university should be applauded

NameChangedForThisFeb21 · 09/03/2021 08:15

@Localocal

Too harsh by far. Are adults who mix not only being fired from their jobs, but all their future jobs? Ruining their lives for one mistake is outrageous.
They are being kicked out of one course at one university. They are free to apply elsewhere. They will have credits to take with them if they have built them up.

They are not being banned from attending university in the future. Nor are they being banned from ever having a job. As an aside, people do get jobs, and often excellent ones at that, without ever going to university. People are also free to apply for university at any age. So this “ruining their whole lives” narrative is just plain untrue.

ddl1 · 09/03/2021 08:32

Imagine all the students and indeed mumsnet posters if they’d been kicked out of university because they were at a party and smoked a joint.

Not comparable. Smoking a joint will not, on its own, endanger others. The comparable thing might be if they smoked a joint and then drove.

Sleepyblueocean · 09/03/2021 08:44

I thinking fining, isolating for 10 days and being told to find alternative accommodation if they are in university accommodation is more reasonable . People aren't being sacked for the same behaviour.

MummyMayo1988 · 09/03/2021 09:35

It's definitely harsh but fair I think. If they can't follow a simple quarantine rule now (as teens) what will they be like as adults?

RB68 · 09/03/2021 09:43

I think its perfectly reasonable they disrespected the LAW whether you agree with the law or not and endangered others, we all want to do stuff that currently we are being asked not to or told by law is not allowed FOR GOOD REASON not just for the hell of it - selfish entitled fuckwits and yes they deserve a knock back they are lucky they are not in jail as far as I am concerned.

Frankly if they are not intelligent enough to work out how stupid this is then they are probably to thick to stay on the course anyway. It has always been the case that any poor behaviour on the part of students can get them thrown off courses. Other life pathways are available and if it means they have to go and god forbid work for 9 to 12 months and realise the error of their ways etc then bloody good job. A question I would ask as well is what student has 10k to drop on a fine...got to wonder who is paying that then.

RB68 · 09/03/2021 09:43

too

Pinkfluff76 · 09/03/2021 09:44

That’s ridiculous punishment for a party of 16/17 people! It wasn’t 60 or 600!!!

msgreen · 09/03/2021 10:31

Good thing ,
its not just breaking a rule, its potentially taking a life
more fines for all rule breakers whatever their age

Coffeemaniac · 09/03/2021 10:56

Actions come with consequences. The Uni have been fair

garlictwist · 09/03/2021 11:08

I live in a student area and there are parties like this every single day! Plus a lot of outdoor drinking in the park in huge groups in the daytime that no one seems to care about. I am amazed the university bothered to throw them out as if they did that here there'd be no students left.

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