Student and Christmas

Yes, they have been told that 100% remote learning isn't an option. They were also told that their offers wouldn't necessarily be honoured if they were freshers and that returners had to have a medical reason to defer.

Apparently, the insistence that there would be face-to-face teaching was to satisfy the visa requirements of overseas students, even though it isn't always happening.

In Scotland, there's the additional issue that freshers are younger than in England and universities are in "loco parentis" of 17 year olds.

And to add insult to injury make them pay thousands to be incarcerated!

Many were told they must go back to university, that learning remotely wasn’t an option.

As soon as they did that, some were then told they couldn’t leave their accommodation, with security guards on the door. Lawyers in Scotland are now questioning whether these students have been unlawfully detained.

I’ve been hearing dreadful stories of some overseas students in particular not receiving food for days at a time.

It’s a shocking way to treat people.

I don't understand why most went back when I understand that most courses online anyway [I know there are some exceptions] It was obvious a second wave was on the way. Why did they not stay home

trisher

^So lock up the oldies and let the virus run its course amongst the rest of the population?^
That's acually more logical than lock up students which seems to be the present policy. but actually I would ask all people to be more conscious of their social responsibilities. I read today that Asian students don't want to come to the UK because we don't routinely wear masks. They regard the wearing of masks as a social responsibility and that's the crux of the matter that we no longer regard social responsibility as something essential. We've bred a society where the personal is more important.

My point is that the ICU doctor from a Welsh hospital, when interviewed on tv, has just made it clear that, although many people think that younger people will not suffer badly if they catch this virus, some will. They now have younger people with the virus in their ICU.

I have equal sympathy for the students and the older groups. It’s not finite.

This is terrible for all of us.

How do you know it would be only a handful? And I suspect it would be a pretty miserable time for those students and their families-isolated and suffering from a horrible illness. Paints a bleak sad picture.

M0nica

There are a lot of nasty and unpleasant remarks about those now at university.

I can never understand anyone who because they have suffered or another group have suffered should want to inflict that same suffering on others.

I agree with this.

I don’t know why students are being scapegoated for this when the evidence in Scotland is that they’re responsible for a very small proportion of law-breaking. According to Police Scotland, illegal partying is taking place across all communities and all age groups.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54323354

So lock up the oldies and let the virus run its course amongst the rest of the population?
That's acually more logical than lock up students which seems to be the present policy. but actually I would ask all people to be more conscious of their social responsibilities. I read today that Asian students don't want to come to the UK because we don't routinely wear masks. They regard the wearing of masks as a social responsibility and that's the crux of the matter that we no longer regard social responsibility as something essential. We've bred a society where the personal is more important.

I feel very sorry for students, for all of the reasons which have already been expressed and I lost faith with this government many weeks ago. I don't believe their rhetoric or reasoning for anything they do.

I didn't mean to sound dismissive or uncaring about the students trisher; it's a wretched time for them and I really do feel sorry for the situation they're in. I can see why they're disappointed, angry and upset; not only has their education been decimated, the whole experience of independent living away from home has been ruined as well. I take your point that allowing them to socialise within the confines of the campus may well be a good thing, but would they then be happy to be told that they can't go home to see vulnerable relatives?
It's a rotten and difficult time for everyone, and we're all losing out. I honestly don't know whether I have more sympathy for the young who have their lives ahead of them and just want to get started on their journeys, or the elderly and vulnerable, who just want to protect what they have left. It's a tough one. I really don't know the answer.

So lock up the oldies and let the virus run its course amongst the rest of the population?

Unfortunately, an ICU doctor from a Welsh hospital said on TV this evening that the patients they have at the moment are younger.
Most younger people may be more inclined to suffer fewer effects but not all.

What about the staff?

But Chewbacca the evidence is that an 18 year old is unlikely to suffer or to have any longterm effects from covid, so if they do party or dismiss social distancing amongst them selves thay are not putting anyone at risk. If they then visit an elderly relative that may present a threat, but between themselves they may be quite OK. Is it then fair or reasonable to keep the locked up? In fact they may by socialising be developing herd immunity which might be best for all of us.

universities should have prioritised getting these students back on campus safely.

They could have tested them and banned Freshers' week, drinking and socialising outside.

But imagine the outcry if that had happened!

There are some nasty people on this thread!
‘Caring for others!’ seems to have disappeared.

Please could someone indicate where anyone over 60 had a security guard on the gate.

I don't think security guards were needed for the over 60s trisher. They simply accepted that, to protect themselves, and other's, they needed to stay in doors and not spread the virus. I suppose if there had been the slightest risk that the residents of nursing and care homes were going to sneak out and go on a jolly, get hammered and party the night away with unfettered abandon, there's a good chance there would have been guards on the gates. But they were altogether more responsible and accepted that, for the foreseeable future and "greater good", their lives as they knew it, would have to change.

M0nica

There are a lot of nasty and unpleasant remarks about those now at university.

I can never understand anyone who because they have suffered or another group have suffered should want to inflict that same suffering on others.

Apparently “fair is fair” or some such nonsense.

I don’t get it

There are a lot of nasty and unpleasant remarks about those now at university.

I can never understand anyone who because they have suffered or another group have suffered should want to inflict that same suffering on others.

The student generation, especially those now entering their first year at university, have been seriously let down by our politicians,

The country needs to train scientists, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. and their training cannot be done entirely online and so universities should have prioritised getting these students back on campus safely.

All other students, who can just as well listen to lectures and take part in discussions online, read books and write essays, should be doing that from home.

There is no way that this year's students can benefit from the social experience of being a student away from home in the way that they might have done only last year. so the safest thing would have been to recognise that and offer students who do not need to attend labs the choice of working from home or deferring for a year.

Please could someone indicate where anyone over 60 had a security guard on the gate.

4allweknow

FM Sturgeon has now said students can go home and learning will be on line for next two weeks. I rather liked the idea of all those young people being locked in with no social contact. Just a taste of what happened when the vulnerable elderly were shipped from hospital to care homes and have basically been locked in for months. No free weeks of care offered either unlike the students who seem to be in line for a rebate on their accommodation.

Are you serious?

Blackcat3

Poor little snowflakes....they should be getting on with their work....not whining at how unfair it is that they have to stop the spread of the virus.....cough cough....you’re dead!

Shall we say the same to the grans here complaining about spending Christmas alone?

What a nasty comment

Yes, I feel sorry that this is not the university experience they were hoping for.

But the scientists predicted a second, possibly worse, wave in October and these are supposedly intelligent people.

My advice would have been to defer if at all possible.
That would be the sensible option.

Please could someone explain what the difference is between:

60 years? And a degree of fitness and health.
And, according to the statistics, the mortality rate increases quite dramatically with age.

I do feel sorry for the students even attempting to go to uni this year - My advice would have been to defer if at all possible. The universities of course want/need their income. My daughter is a lecturer in a clinical skills environment and she can’t understand the rush to get the students back. As for Christmas not sure why folk are so worried about a particular day? Surely families can have Christmas any day unless you are very very religious?