Students returning to university ?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Not sure how I feel about this one.
Various friend's children are returning to university next week. From their perspective I can see why they would want to return and why their parents would be happy for that.
I'm concerned about the potential impact on the spread of the virus. We live in a city with one if the highest student populations in the country and our numbers went through the roof when students returned after the summer. Regular stores of police breaking up parties (stating fact, not judging..... pretty sure I'd have been partying too at that age) and whole halls being quarantined.
I know students were tested before coming home at Christmas but even if they are tested before returning, it's not to say that they aren't still incubating at the point they are tested.
Happy to debate - just made me feel a bit nervous about a repeat of the post-summer rise in numbers

3rd year DSd going back. She’s had as has everyone in her 8 person house. As have the other 3 houses she socialises with, following the rules. Massive student town. She hardly knows anyone who hasn’t had it.

Both my DDs are at home but only because they’re are in their first years and getting refunded for not being there.

They’d both be back if it wasn’t for the refunds.

It’s a shit show the government has royally fucked the whole thing up and why they haven’t announced schools and unis closed till Easter I’ll never know.

Hopefully Johnson and his mates will spend a long time in prison for the way they’ve killed people and the economy.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

It's the other way round - they are having their lives restricted for the sake of everyone else.

And I'll say again, I feel desperately sorry for them. But students make up a small percentage of the population. So the rest of us should stay home so they can enjoy the student experience?

Fuck all to do with that students.

My DD and most of her friends have gone back to their private rented accommodation (2nd year). They would prefer to spend lockdown with their housemates rather than at home which for some may not provide an ideal study environment, let alone any family issues there may be. It may be a surprise to some but not all students have spent their time going to illegal house parties. DD and her friends hadn’t set foot in any body else’s house all through, went nowhere over the Xmas holidays at home (prior to returning they isolated for 2 weeks to be sure) and so presented very little risk to each other when they returned. They get supermarket deliveries and there’s nowhere else to go! I support them in trying to get something resembling a student experience during this weird time

There are definitely hardly any student back here. It is a small town and I think it would be very noticeable if there had been a sudden influx of students. If there had then the local residents would have been up in arms. The university is very aware that they need to keep relations between town and gown good and are being as proactive as possible to ensure the students do as they are being requested.

Fuck all to do with that students.

It was where I live after the summer - hence my worry now they are returning again.

I know they aren't all having parties and many are behaving responsibly. But some of the students I know who have had Covid have behaved responsibly.

Saying that most students have had it: even if that is the case (and not sure that it is), it is thought that the antibodies wane after 3 months so there is a possibility of people contracting it twice.

Have you posted this before, OP?

It seems very familiar.

DS has gone back btw. Both the lateral flow tests he had within two days of returning came back negative.

My dd went back before lockdown as did dp's dd. I have one still here whose paying rent for somewhere she isn't. If the government want them to stay at home they need to refund their rent!

@FamilyOfAliens

Have you posted this before, OP?

It seems very familiar.

DS has gone back btw. Both the lateral flow tests he had within two days of returning came back negative.

No I haven't.

Dd2 brought bare minimum back so has been buying more clothes etc to stay here. She has a room but no desk space to work, she’s using my desk when I’m not working or sharing the dining table with dd3/ds if I am

Understand the issue that they have paid for accommodation - but that is paid for whether they live there or not.

Yes so surely you can understand why they’d rather be living there?

Yes so surely you can understand why they’d rather be living there?

Of course I can. But there are lots of things we'd all rather be doing but can't because of Covid.

I'm regretting starting this thread now because it's not going to achieve anything. I was sharing my worries based on what haooened here after the summer.

Posters who have children who want to go back to uni/ are back are always going to put their children's wants first and defend their decisions.

So not really anything to achieve on this thread other than to agree to disagree!

@redsquirrelfan

Given that it will be some time until students are all vaccinated, then I worry that their return to uni will extend the restrictions on everyone's lives

It's the other way round - they are having their lives restricted for the sake of everyone else.

I am a student, I don't know any students who think this. The vast majority are aware that it's shit for everyone and don't think they should be a special case.

it is thought that the antibodies wane after 3 months so there is a possibility of people contracting it twice.

I thought the most recent studies were saying at least 5 months immunity? Tee 5 months is only limited by the length of the study - it could well be shown to be longer.

If the students are renting privately there is very little chance of a refund or ending contracts early.They may also be in breach of their contract if the property is left empty for a period of time ( spotting possible issues I assume) I have found there is very little guidance for students who want to move house back to their student houses - most relates to using uni facilities or bring in campass.

Is there any proof that students were responsible for the post summer rise?
Cases rose everywhere after the summer, not just in Uni towns. Also schools went back - I think they are far less covid safe than unis, but that doesn't seem to be getting the blame. Surely people don't believe the politicians saying they are covid safe - they don't believe anything else the politicians say. Or were they just taken in by the endless news pictures of classrooms with virtually no desks and kids wandering down empty corridors?

Posters who have children who want to go back to uni/ are back are always going to put their children's wants first and defend their decisions.

It’s not a want.

We live in a tiny house which wer’re in the process of selling and DH is WFH at the only desk in the house. DS has just done two exams that would have been impossible for him to revise for effectively if he’d stayed here.

Mine has gone back. For many reasons which are well rehearsed on this thread and others. I had zero concern about them going.

Bottom line, they are adults and make their own decision. Just like you do about your life.

@FamilyOfAliens

Posters who have children who want to go back to uni/ are back are always going to put their children's wants first and defend their decisions.

It’s not a want.

We live in a tiny house which wer’re in the process of selling and DH is WFH at the only desk in the house. DS has just done two exams that would have been impossible for him to revise for effectively if he’d stayed here.

Then that is very definitely a need. But not all students have a need to be back.

@ShaunaTheSheep

Mine has gone back. For many reasons which are well rehearsed on this thread and others. I had zero concern about them going.

Bottom line, they are adults and make their own decision. Just like you do about your life.

Sod the impact on everyone else in their university town then? No wonder they are such an entitled generation.

Wow. Really? Entitled?

They have not done anything that it against the law or even contrary to government guidance.

Can you say the same?

What exactly do you believed students are doing that impacts on you?

What exactly do you believed students are doing that impacts on you

Have you read the thread?

I want my son to have it before me, and I want uni students and staff vaccinated before 20-40 something WFHers

I can see the logic of vaccinating university staff, if the students are back, as they will be exposed to higher levels of risk. However, it makes no sense to vaccinate students early (with the exception of vulnerable or mature students). They are very low risk in terms of getting seriously ill, and the vaccine wouldn't stop them from spreading it to others anyway, so what would be the point?

Sod the impact on everyone else in their university town then? No wonder they are such an entitled generation.

Looks like you’ve shown what your thread is really about there, OP.