Page 10 | University students possibly told to stay at uni over Christmas

katy1213 · 24/09/2020 23:35

That'll be one hell of a party - so I very much doubt it will happen. But at that age I'd have loved Christmas with friends instead of family (and I doubt my mum would have been a nervous breakdown about my absence).

Notfeelinggreattoday · 24/09/2020 23:57

But he didn't actually day it would happen was asked a question and said he wouldn't rule anything out which he would have to say as who knows what things will be like come xmas , after all no one could if known we would be where we are now this time last year

Aragog · 25/09/2020 00:01

Mena

Freshers week isn't happening at the university Dd is going to, and it not happening in the city we live in. There's some virtual meet ups arranged by the universities I believe. And some induction sessions in the buildings.

But no big night outs etc planned at all.

It's been freshers week in our city this week and town has been super quiet when Dh has driven through.

CokeyCola · 25/09/2020 00:09

I've heard this from an academic too last week

Ecosse · 25/09/2020 00:13

There would 100% be suicides were this to be enforced. However, these would not appear in the COVID death figures so it’s a win from the point of view of the government and scaremongerers.

StephenKong · 25/09/2020 00:16

@Ecosse

There would 100% be suicides were this to be enforced. However, these would not appear in the COVID death figures so it’s a win from the point of view of the government and scaremongerers.

Anyone that fragile should really come home now

PermanentMarkerSniffer · 25/09/2020 00:50

@Ecosse

There would 100% be suicides were this to be enforced. However, these would not appear in the COVID death figures so it’s a win from the point of view of the government and scaremongerers.

Or they could just break the rule rather than committing suicide? I don't think they're going to chain them to a radiator.

Although I agree, it's an awful idea.

RepeatSwan · 25/09/2020 01:01

I think there is a real risk of suicides, yes.

The fact this has to be considered shows how badly we have all been let down by the government - bloody Johnson pretending everything would be normal by November

FagashJackie · 25/09/2020 02:10

I have a graduate dd and other DC and I think this is cruel like hell. Undergraduates are living away from home for the first time and being told you can't go home is bad. They might not want to have gone home, but to not be able to makes you more homesick. I feel sorry for the young ones in this.

drivinmecrazy · 25/09/2020 02:36

It would appear that I'm a lone voice on this thread.
Was chatting to DD1 about this today. She's second year but I believe her first year self would have felt the same.

She actually feels somewhat relieved of the expectation to come home this year.
Not all students are hankering to come home to fulfil their roles at Christmas.
What has struck me reading many posts is that it's a parent showing indignation at the thought of their children not being able to come home.
Let's face it, we all struggle when our babies go to uni but I think we might lose sight of the fact it's harder for us than the kids.

My DD1 is supposed to be going to South America next year as part of her course and I'm just devestated for her she might not be able to.
Not because I don't love her and won't miss her but because we spent years encouraging her dream of university life and the opportunity to spread her wings.
There seems to be more posts expressing anxiety from parents this year than previous years even allowing for the extreme situation facing freshers.

Graciebobcat · 25/09/2020 03:45

File under not going to happen. There is no way it could be enforced.

Pixxie7 · 25/09/2020 04:23

I think talking about suicides is a bit OTT. If they are that mentally fragile they shouldn’t have gone in the first place. They won’t be on their own, not sure how much of some of this are parents needing to see their children, rather than the other way round.

PhilCornwall1 · 25/09/2020 05:08

How many students are going to follow this rule, not many I'd have thought.

Torvean32 · 25/09/2020 05:50

@WearyandBleary

This has just been leaked and Matt Hancock has done a non-denial.

This has shocked me. Why not tell old people to stay at home over Christmas instead? The mental health of our students is going to be horrific.

Why the hell should old ppl have a Christmas on their own. It's well known that older ppl get depression through loneliness.

Students would at least have their flat mates for company.
All the older person may have is a tv/radio, no human voice.

I have worked Christmas day twice. My flat mates had all gone home. My family were a flight away. That was in my twenties. I went for a walk after work and felt a bit jealous of families having fun in the snow.

I dont think missing 1 Christmas would hurt most uni students health. I think it would be far more painful for an elder perdon.

FippertyGibbett · 25/09/2020 05:54

Just because you are in a flat with people doesn’t mean you like them or get on with them.
Being forced to spend two weeks with people you dislike could be the thing that pushes you over the edge.
Chuck in some alcohol and/or drugs and it could be a recipe for disaster.
Imagine if everyone else goes home and you’re on your own.
No, they must be free to leave at Christmas.

Monty27 · 25/09/2020 05:58

@Porcupineinwaiting

Why not wait and see what happens? We dont need to go "max drama" for every rumour do we.

Quite a lot of students might actually fancy a uni Christmas much to the bitter disappointment of their parents.

It's not a rumour.

I'd be interested to know how the students are to be supported

Tomatoesneedtoripen · 25/09/2020 06:04

well i am not surprised since they did say they would not let them go home in another wave
but i am not sure the students will mind much but the families really will

RepeatSwan · 25/09/2020 06:25

@Pixxie7

I think talking about suicides is a bit OTT. If they are that mentally fragile they shouldn’t have gone in the first place. They won’t be on their own, not sure how much of some of this are parents needing to see their children, rather than the other way round.

There are suicides at university, surely you know this?

This feels very heartless, victim blaming.

middleager · 25/09/2020 06:37

@Graciebobcat

File under not going to happen. There is no way it could be enforced.

I came on to say this.

More scaremongering by media and Govt.

mosscarpet · 25/09/2020 06:39

"Anyone that fragile should really come home now"

You know, one thing this pandemic has made me realise is just how ignorant some people still are about mental health. I am an NHS clinician working in mental health. I had thought people generally had more understanding of mental health these days. But comments like this, and the total lack of empathy or comapassion I have seen in comments on MN and elsewhere these past few months has been staggering .
Plenty of people with mental health struggles go to uni, and do well, and successfully complete degrees. That doesnt mean they are not vulnerable. They will have ways of managing their mental health, and part of that might include going home at weekends or looking forard to time at home such as Christmas. For a young person, who may have difficulties, to then be told they have to stay in halls/their house/their flat for the full 2 week + Christmas break could easily be the thing that tips them over the edge.
As has beed said over and over again, just because "some" or even "most" students might be fine with this arrangement it doesnt mean we should ignore those for whom it may cause real distress. Lots of these young poeple are living away from home for the first time. Some will find this easy, some will struggle. I have had one dc who graduated last year after a 4 yrs masters degree. He settled in really quickly, and did not come home during term time at all, and would quite possibly have been OK with this rule. I have one dd now in her third year. She really, really struggled in her first year, and came home at weekends quite often. She is doing better now, and doesnt come home very often in term time but she would NOT cope with this rule, and her mental health would suffer. I have one dc just about to start her first year. I dont know how she will manage. She has fairly robust mental health, but who knows. I dont know what sort of situation she is walking into, or how that will impact her. I do know that if she was told she could not come home for Christmas she would likely chose to just not go to uni.
So yes, people are different. But just beacsue "some" might be OK with this rule, does not mean we should ignore the horrendous harm it could do to others.
I was speaking to me 87 yr old dad last night. He has a lung condition and is ECV. We wont be able to see him at Christmas most likely. I have only seen hime once since March.He offered to give me the money to pay any fines that I might incurr in bringing my dc home from uni at Christmas as he agrees it is a totally in humane rule if it was to be brought in.

Playdoughbum · 25/09/2020 06:54

I’ve been very compliant. I’m not a rule breaker. But my child will NOT be staying in university accommodation over Christmas.
If I can spend my days in a bubble of 60 and it’s deemed safe, then no. Too far. I remember how homesick I could get at uni. Will drive the six hours each way if need be.

mumsneedwine · 25/09/2020 07:02

@mosscarpet perfectly put. Thank you. Compassion and empathy have been in short supply from some people.
I'm just off to spend my day with loads of people in cramped rooms coughing and sneezing. But my DD can't leave her room. Bonkers.

PhilCornwall1 · 25/09/2020 07:04

There is zero logic to anything coming from the government over this. To be honest, did anyone expect there to be?

MissEliza · 25/09/2020 07:13

My df spent three months not able to see us. My dh hasn't seen his dps since December. They live in Egypt and for months, there weren't even flights between here and there. When flights resumed, cases were rising there so he felt it wasn't sensible to go. Now he needs a negative PCR test to go. No chance of getting that. My dcs turn 18 and 21 soon. No chance of them celebrating that properly. My ds missed vital parts of his course last year due to the lockdown and his lecturers are saying they're being threatened with closure. Now we're told ds might have to sit on his own for Christmas.F&@k that. We've done everything right this year and sacrificed a lot.

Splodgetastic · 25/09/2020 08:02

@MadameBlobby many of these baby boomers suffered terribly in their early lives, in poor housing with rudimentary sanitation, with little food and widespread childhood illnesses that could kill or make you disabled. True, their parents probably suffered more, but as far as I’m concerned my parents deserve every penny of their pension and their house. DM lost some of her pension in fact when a pension fund went under and mortgage rates when they bought their house were astronomical.