Why go to university?
Firstly, for education, either vocational or just to learn for learning's sake.
Secondly, for the experience and the opportunity to form lasting friendships.
In 2020 the movement of a million or more students around the country is inevitably a risk to public health and should be questioned.
If they are studying science, medicine or engineering or a few other courses which require lab facilities, they have to be onsite.
If they are studying subjects which only involve reading, discussing and writing essays, all of that could just as well be done from home.
Of course online learning does not offer the social experience leading to lifelong friendships but the Covid restrictions are restricting social interactions to such an extent that social interactions are severely limited.
Would it not have been, in the present exceptional circumstances, better to offer most students online courses at a reduced fee (or the option of deferring for a year) and only provide onsite learning for the courses where that is necessary?
That way the students who have to be on campus could live and be taught in better spaced out facilities.
Mental health worry in grandchild