University 2020 :9: And they're off, making hay while the sun shines.

[MillicentMartha]

New thread, trying to be upbeat!

Old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3996883-University-2020-8-Use-the-CAGs-don-t-use-the-CAGs?pg=40

Lancaster are coming under a lot of criticism locally on social media and on twitter about their £18 per day food parcels for those isolating. Whilst other Unis are offering free food or rent rebates, Lancaster are profiteering. Not good at all. Their high rankings re accommodation and student satisfaction is going to plummet if they don't get their act together soon.

[quote sammyjoanne]@BCBG thats madness. it simply just cannot work. Overlapping with constant covid cases and being stuck in the room could be there for weeks. What kind of good will that do for students mental health? It does make one think it would be much easier for everyone in the flat to get it all at the same time, and then just carry on as normal since catching it twice is such a rarity. Risky move naturally, but students will be thinking thats the 'easier' option.[/quote]
My son's flat was locked down last week, they didn't even last a week before one of them got covid (the only one who went out partying every night!). Some have said they're going home and not going back if anyone else gets it after the two weeks are up. They're not going to put up with a steady stream of 2 week isolations.

@Sostenueto that's a great stash. Have just packed up a box of sweets, facepack, hot chocolate; basically a trawl of tkmaxx .
Will probably have to follow it up with maths book she thought she'd finished with but she's slowly learning that she can run but she can't hide from chemical equations

@user1497207191 I heard about the food parcels. I read the tab which is a students run news website and it mentioned it there. DD has said she wont pay either. She has labs she has to go to, so cant really leave Uni. Nottinghamshire is about to go into lockdown. Not the uni students for the majority, they just count for a third. Its too many back street pubs round here doing parties for 30+ people and flounting the rules. A few been shut down for a month as punishment. Might not get chance to leave the county if they carry on doing what they are doing :(

@user1497207191 I heard about the food parcels. I read the tab which is a students run news website and it mentioned it there. DD has said she wont pay either. She has labs she has to go to, so cant really leave Uni. Nottinghamshire is about to go into lockdown. Not the uni students for the majority, they just count for a third. Its too many back street pubs round here doing parties for 30+ people and flounting the rules. A few been shut down for a month as punishment. Might not get chance to leave the county if they carry on doing what they are doing :(

@user1497207191 I heard about the food parcels. I read the tab which is a students run news website and it mentioned it there. DD has said she wont pay either. She has labs she has to go to, so cant really leave Uni. Nottinghamshire is about to go into lockdown. Not the uni students for the majority, they just count for a third. Its too many back street pubs round here doing parties for 30+ people and flounting the rules. A few been shut down for a month as punishment. Might not get chance to leave the county if they carry on doing what they are doing :(

sorry internet played up and i thought last post not posted lol

I may be naive and I'm not in possession of all the facts (I suspect none of us are), but I wonder if this criticism of Lancaster is entirely justified? The meal delivery service is totally optional and there are other ways to get food - students are allowed to leave their accommodation to collect food deliveries (as close as possible), takeaways are a short term option also. I wouldn't expect any university to offer free food to self-catering students, totally different if your accommodation is catered and you've paid in advance for your meals of course.
I think the best advice we can give our DC is to keep a stock of food in hand while they can, even just for a few days. I know storage can be an issue.
The smoking thing is appalling though I suspect is about risk management to prevent the inevitable smoking indoors.
I also understand from DD that the system for collecting post/parcels has changed and doesn't feel particularly safe?

The 18 pound meal plan is completely optional, there are at least 3 easy other ways to get food even without supermarket delivery slots if they are taking a while to organise..
A) ask a non isolating fresher to pick up some pasta etc at spar 2 mins walk away
B) there is a 20 pound food box containing fruit veg basics milk cheese soup etc.much more economical than the meal plan option
C)numerous takeaway outlets on campus, including burgers, burrittos, coffee, pizza which.deliver to outside your flat.

So no one has to get their horrid 3 meal option, unless they have literally nothing in the flat, surely everyone has at least one meal in the storecupboard?

Although the amazon, royal mail, dhl, etc parcel collection.(as opposed to the on campus to your flat deliveries) look very exasperating, long queues to one central point. Luckily ds no longer has to think about those particular pickups, ive told him avoid royal mail and amazon for now. Books from blackwells on campus instead..door to door

@choirmumoftwo I hear Lancaster laundry services also does a collection and delivery service at £7.00 per bag. I thought that quite reasonable as its got the collection and delivery. :)

@Nettleskeins DD also went to pick up a parcel today. Between 7 and 9pm for Grizedale is the time slot and she waited 40 mins. And it didn't feel safe either. People were not socially distancing, and some were waiting well over and hour and queueing all the way back to fylde and furness college. They have got timetable for the pick up slots for each college but its still creating queues.

Ds at Loughborough (tested positive) is getting free food from Loughborough. It’s not great but it’s free.

There are 2 bathrooms so a COVID one and a non Covid one......

His friend who he thinks brought coronavirus to uni with him, has lost his taste and smell and is awaiting results. A couple of people have tested negative but that could change.
Technically ds could unisolate on the 13th but due to the others and testing he’s got to isolate until the 18th.......how flipping miserable.

😩😩😩😩😩😩

@Collision Aww great for your DS. hope he gets better soon.DD doesn't think its a case of If any more, but When. Even if someones DC doesnt get it, someone in their flat probably will.

@collision that's not fun for him and wasn't he struggling to settle in as well.

Loughborough publish the number of +ve students every day and it was 26 a few days ago.

A flat next to DS is isolating but luckily DS's lot all seem to be fine at the moment.

If someone else tests positive or shows symptoms later in self isolation period for household, the guidance is that the rest of the household does NOT have to extend their isolation past 14 days in total. Only the late sufferer.
And it is guidance not law. The law is if you are contact traced, or have positive test.

Eve - I just took a look at Loughborough Covid stats. It still says 26 cases (on Oct 5th) but 18 we're off campus. I'm sure both on and off campus figures will rise soon though.

@Eve @pasanda
Yeah he was struggling but seems better now weirdly

Good news collision 👍

@Nettleskeins that's fantastically reassuring if we are sure that's correct! Might be a disincentive for others in the flats to be tested though.

tickledtrout

Just ordered iron from Argos for dgds flat and sent it to her. She can collect the £3 each off the flatmates! ( Well they r using her kettle toaster sandwich maker after all😁)

One of dd's household has tested positive so all now supposed to be self isolating. Except some are planning to escape tonight. She has cold symptoms like the + person and is debating whether to test or if it is too late now.

Hope she's ok @LIZS 🤞. May be worth getting tested?

I thought so, but she felt unwell late Mon/Tuesday so test may no longer be effective. It probably won't arrive until Saturday now.

@Iizs definitely worth getting tested to know for sure :)

This is the weekly 'making hay' for DD.
After the busy monday (3hrs lecture 3 hrs labs) the rest of the week is a bit of a mixed bag of busy parts and quieter parts.

Tuesday was 2 seminars, 1 lecture and there was also a session where the student took part in Kahoot (multiple choice quiz) on physics and maths and out of 150 students she came 4th Daughter and flat stocking up on food as covid has hit campus, so she now has enough tins to last 2 weeks.

Wednesday, 2 lectures, she went to the library, spent a couple of hours working on a physics problem sheet. Did a Sainsbury's shop (free bus on wed afternoons providing you show receipt). And picked up a package which contained a top and dress she bought. The students are not happy. packages used to go to porters, but because of covid, they now go to one central space and each college has a pick up slot several times a week. Its only created queues and she waited 40 mins to get her parcel.

Thursday another seminar, on 4D space and vectors she likes. Had the sniffles today and little bit bunged up. (none of the covid symptoms, and she also has sinus at times. and shes thinks its a bit sinusy) Her flat mate had the same on Tuesday but now better after couple of days, so she hopes that same thing happens and does not last long. Freshers flu and colds are still about, even when flats are not mixing.
Shes still loving uni. Her course is superb and loves all of the lecturers and shes still loves her flatmates.

Seminar tomorrow Phys101 'the physical universe' and thats it for the day. Friday is a nice way to ease off into the weekend, before Manic Monday starts again.