University students possibly told to stay at uni over Christmas

[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.

Oh, are you calling me needy or what? It wasn't intended as a preachy comment, it was an alternative viewpoint. Maybe it was even supposed to be reassuring. However, I clearly pitched it wrong so I'll just shut up now and won't bother posting anything ever again.

@Cleebope2

Do we need to start a parents of locked down students protest movement? Not even kidding. Plus uni and halls fees should be much reduced this year.

Count me in!

Talk about an authoritarian regime. Fxxk that.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-follow-the-rules-if-you-want-students-home-for-christmas-says-culture-secretary-12083205

Not the following the rules bit - we do that anyway. It's the authoritarian bit which disturbs me.

People think measures are proportional until it affects them then.

The authoritarian regimes don't start over night, it's little things.

Very true. Small incremental changes leading to loss of freedom. You only have to look back in history to see what happens when populations allow governments to behave like this.

They don't stand a chance anyway. Too many students wanting to get home. Too many parents and grandparents.

Keeping our kids from us will be a step too far. I'm the least rebellious person but I will snap. I spend every day with 1,800 of other people's children, some of whom are 18. I will see my 18 year old when I want. No debate. No argument. They will have to arrest me to stop me - and there is no law to arrest me under if I go pick up my willing child. We all need to do what's best for our families, as Scumming said.

Uni is about the social experience and the extra-curricular opportunities as much as getting a degree. Many people meet their partners at uni. My DD is in a 6 bed house, if anyone has someone stay over they're breaking the law. Christmas would just be the final nail in the coffin.

Presumably she’s there for longer than this one term? Like 3 or 4 years?

Everyone might not be so keen on having them home if they knew how corona was spreading through the student population. The problem of corona has been exacerbated by the students getting up and moving and spreading to new populations, they will then take it home either now (if they pull out and go home) or in early Dec if they complete the term.

The students being 'held' in hall aren't being held anyway, they were allowed to go home, the ones that wanted. Be careful what you wish for, I have had several students already need tests/have flatmates with tests, we are one week in, they will be bringing it home which may not actually be what you and the rest of your family (especially older relatives) want for Christmas.

@Poppingnostopping

Everyone might not be so keen on having them home if they knew how corona was spreading through the student population. The problem of corona has been exacerbated by the students getting up and moving and spreading to new populations, they will then take it home either now (if they pull out and go home) or in early Dec if they complete the term.

The students being 'held' in hall aren't being held anyway, they were allowed to go home, the ones that wanted. Be careful what you wish for, I have had several students already need tests/have flatmates with tests, we are one week in, they will be bringing it home which may not actually be what you and the rest of your family (especially older relatives) want for Christmas.

Which is why I suggested that they self isolate for two weeks before they come home.

@Poppingnostopping bit that is our decision. I haven't seen my mum for 4 weeks since I went back to school as I'm most likely to infect her. I spend every day in crowded rooms with coughing kids. I'll take the risk of having my own kids home at Xmas.

Everyone might not be so keen on having them home if they knew how corona was spreading

We have already talked this through as a family. They will self isolate for a bit before and after coming home. My elderly Dad will probably go to my brother & his wife who don't have children if things are bad near Christmas.

Leaving unwilling young people by themselves over Christmas is not right.

If you have a child who can fully self-isolate before they come home, fab, but realistically this isn't what most can do, most are in halls, shared with others, will still be socializing and may be on campus for studying. They can try to self-isolate but it's actually very hard to do that in a shared campus environment, perhaps easier in your parents home bedroom.

Yes, it's up to you. But you are saying it as if everyone is being entirely irrational and just trying to part you from your loved ones. It's a measure suggested to try to stem the flow of corona back into households. It's probably not legal anyway, at the moment. But by then household mixing may be banned. I would have my child home, but if everyone does that, then inevitably some students will take corona into their parents homes, and their families at Christmas. That may actually not feel great for the student.

Presumably she’s there for longer than this one term? Like 3 or 4 years?

It's already been one term. This term is another. Then according to the govt the restrictions are due to continue for six months, by which time it's finals and the end. There is no summer term in the final year. DD is making the most of it, but it is truly shite and not good value for money.

@user1471588124

How much more can they expect young people to give up, while simultaneously blaming them for everything?

Exactly this.

You are missing my point @Poppingnostopping.
I spend all day with other people's 18 year olds. Who have no restrictions and are out in pubs and groups. I am tired, stressed but doing my job. I will be at the same risk having my own child in my own house as I am every day at work. But for my mental health I need to see my kids. I'm hanging on by a thread as are most school staff.

It is interesting how they are focusing on students.

Nothing about my teacher daughter who spends all day with 100's of secondary school children with no PPE or distancing. No that is OK.

Nothing about those going into pubs and restaurants or travelling. That's OK.

Nothing about sport and hobbies, meeting up a club houses and the like. No that's OK too.

Just students.

My teacher daughter lives with us. Why is it ok for her to come home with possible virus (no ability to isolate each night), but not my student children who can isolate?

mumsneedwine I totally get that, and I would need to see mine. I'm just saying our natural human instinct to cluster together will spread covid as covid is spreading faster than perhaps we thought it would in the student population (perhaps predictably!)

OverTheRainbowLiesOz totally agree with this, our Covid safety is great, my children's in school is pants. Universities are not the place they are spreading (campus) IMO, it's in clustered living accommodation. Schools are going to start closing soon due to lack of teachers who are able to teach (as so many self-isolating or ill).

Definitely.

My daughter is covering two classes tomorrow for teachers who are off. Only a matter of time before it comes to us now.

@bigbluebus

My learning disabled adult DD (sadly no longer with us) had to have a Deprivation of Liberties Assessment just so she could go and stay at the respite facility she had a place at (on the basis that she did not have the capacity to decide to go there herself). So how in God's name have we got to a point where we are depriving fully functioning adults of their liberty (in the absence of them committing any crime) is beyond me.

ssorry to hear about your daughter bigbluebus but you raise a very interesting point about Deprivation of Liberty. Technically those student are under continuous supervision and not free to leave. I very much hope they have checked that they all absolutely have capactiy and are consenting to the arrangement because otherwise they should be applying to the court of protection to authorise the Deprivation of Liberty - whether it is in their best ineterests or not makes no difference (As from the famous Cheshire west case) and I would very much like to see the Court of Protection's ruling on this.

Spotted this on Twitter.

Levins Solicitors
@LevinsLaw
·
15h
To the MMU students at Birley campus and Cambridge halls: get in touch and we will do our best to help, pro bono.

@HeIenaDove

Spotted this on Twitter.

Levins Solicitors
@LevinsLaw
·
15h
To the MMU students at Birley campus and Cambridge halls: get in touch and we will do our best to help, pro bono.

good! I hope some students take them up on their offer. This needs a legal challenge.

[quote OverTheRainbowLiesOz]Talk about an authoritarian regime. Fxxk that.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-follow-the-rules-if-you-want-students-home-for-christmas-says-culture-secretary-12083205[/quote]
Oh that makes me so stabby
A heady mix of pomposity and authoritarianism, what’s not to detest !

Re the schools vs uni discussion - interesting that there seems to be significantly more infection in junior schools than unis in week to 25 Sep. twitter.com/chrischirp/status/1310227030374584320?s=21