@JamieLeeCurtains
I'll have whatever your taking:
Or more generously I think we agree that none of this is fair but your reasons are barking.
"These 18 year olds were lured to these expensive halls under false preferences and locked up for the ££££ the universities need."
Ummm No, they applied go to university, and were, provided with the documentation that outlined the accommodation options and the costs which they agreed to and signed for. It's a tenancy agreement, and therefore lawful, not unlawful. Does the university get paid as a result as the landlord of the property? Yes they do. But that's normal in a tenancy agreement. And, sadly, it's how universities get a sizeable chunk of their income these days. It's not normal in Europe and neither did it used to be in the UK that you have to pay to go to University. Unless anyone forgets, it was effectively free especially if you were poor. My parents were, and I got a grant for accommodation, and living expenses, and the tuition was free.
This was all funded from general taxation.
"A lot of these rooms are tiny and claustrophobic".
Correct. Many are, but many of them also come with an en-suite bathroom, which was not what we got when I was at Uni. I'm not sure that unless you suffer from claustrophobia the size is too much of an issue. Many students were not planning to spend much time there anyway. Although that's obviously not how it turned out for reasons , apparently out of anyone's control.
"They have had their liberty taken away unlawfully."
No they haven't. If they have been advised that they have been in contact with someone who has COVID either symptomatically or not, then they are obliged, (not by the university), but by the laws enacted under emergency legislation, by the government, to self isolate. The University is providing them means to do that, but I doubt that it is locking them in. The more serious point is that the government is making these regulations under emergency powers and therefore there is no parliamentary scrutiny and no debate. That is a scandal and a risk to our democracy.
"Students are posting pictures of locked fire gates."
If so then the University would be in breach of Health and Safety regulations and could be prosecuted for doing so. The student who took the photo or one of his or her friends should raise with the accommodation manager and get the lock removed.
"They are prisoners"
Not unless they are physically prevented for leaving the building which I would doubt. If you have evidence otherwise let's hear it.
"being out at risk." I don't know what this means
"No-one normal should be ok with this."
Agreed. The government have made a complete pig's ear of this ( which is very unfair to pigs). They knew back in June they had a window of opportunity to plan for the schools and uni's to go back and they did nothing. They are damaging the education system, not effectively controlling COVID, and damaging the economy. If they had taken the opportunity they had in the summer then this would be unnecessary and the economic damage less. They didn't. In any normal business the current Cabinet would all be fired.