Is Six the Magic Number?

In the last week, freshers and returning students have travelled both across the country and internationally to begin the Autumn semester. The movement of thousands of students undoubtedly heightens the concerns of communities surrounding the campuses, and the efficacy of the government’s rule of six among students remains at the top of the list. 

I write this article from an unusual perspective as a university student that studies in the community I have grown up in. Affectionately nicknamed a ‘local’, I share the concerns that my wider family and friends have around the arrival of the student population. The South West has been one of the least affected regions of the country throughout the pandemic and anything that potentially threatens the growth of the R rate is understandably a cause of anxiety.

Communications from my university since March have reassured me that campuses will be Covid-19 secure, and protocols are in place to mitigate any spike in local or national cases. We have been provided with face masks, a digital thermometer and other, practical resources to ensure our learning experience remains high-quality and unaffected where possible.

However, the efforts university administration have gone to to ensure students have an element of face-to-face teaching may be in vain if students ignore government restrictions. Just this weekend, fears that students won’t take rules seriously, especially if alcohol is involved, were proven well-founded. Mass gatherings were reported on Exeter’s campus, with photos taken showing “hundreds” of students outside university accommodation.

If this is already happening at the beginning of the semester, it is understandable that people were nervous for students to return. With updated restrictions from the government, I’m concerned that the complacency of individuals will lead to a rise in circumstances such as these. The 10pm curfew on bars and pubs may prevent people from convening in public, but I predict there will be an increase in house and garden parties as a result.

Understandably, anxiety in the local community is high. Despite the restrictions on campus to allow for social distancing, limited capacity and the requirement for mask wearing, universities have little control over what students do outside of contact time. Whilst campus security might have authority over university-owned accommodation, those in private housing are left to local police communities. If there is a rise in gatherings in private properties, this may put pressure on local emergency services who pick up the pieces after a messy evening.

Emphasising the importance of sticking to gatherings of no more than six people, and encouraging people to keep their distance from others, seems to be wasted breath among some of the student population. Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20 vision and the government should have seen the likelihood of such events happening before students moved into new towns and cities.

The Universities and College Union (UCU) released a statement last month urging campuses to remain closed with the safety of staff, students and communities in mind. The UCU argue the costs to public health are greater than the costs to universities in altering their blended learning approach and action had to be taken to prevent repeating the care homes crisis. In a statement released following the latest guidance, the UCU reiterated their claims that universities could become transmission hotspots and “if this government is serious about reducing the number of confirmed cases then it must now tell universities to abandon in-person teaching.”

University students were forgotten about during this pandemic and it seems the same is true of this alleged second wave. The government wanted education to continue, and rightly so, but their track record on education doesn’t fill me with a lot of hope. Action should have been taken before students moved across the UK, or from further afield, and any attempts to mitigate the damage will be a lot like plastering over the cracks. It may be too late.

If the nationwide situation worsens and students may have to choose between returning home and paying for accommodation they are no longer needing, or students being unable to leave and paying extortionate amounts to stream their lectures. Students will already be settled into their new communities and cases may have spiked. The government should have been responsive to the warnings from the UCU, local communities, students and teaching staff.

Initially, I was hesitant about working online but upon reflection I understand I was thinking selfishly. I wanted to see my friends. I wanted to chat to my lecturers and listen to guest speakers. I wanted to visit The Ram for curly fries and The Old Firehouse for toffee flavoured cider. I wanted to graduate in person. However, what I really want is for my friends, family and community to stay safe. I want positive cases to reduce and lives to be saved.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and nothing can be done about the mistakes that have already been made. I can only hope, for the sake of every person in Exeter and beyond, that those students begin to take the risks seriously. I fear for the safety of my community, and as important as my degree is to me, the health and wellbeing of those I love is more important. I hope those risking lives for the sake of a pint or a couple of shots see these restrictions as a wake up call.

 

Bethany Collins

Follow @bethanyjcollins

Featured image courtesy of Kelsey Chance via Unsplash. Image licence found here. No changes were made to this image.