You Can Have Our Pubs and House Parties, But Do Not Mess With Christmas

The second wave of coronavirus is already in full swing, and this time round the ‘selfish’ young people are taking the brunt of the blame for the rise in cases. This has resulted in restrictions directly affecting our generation such as pub and restaurant curfews and a rule of six to avoid any unwanted house parties. To be honest I can understand and see how these measures could help slow the spread. However, it was revealed on Thursday that health secretary, Matt Hancock, is contemplating banning students from returning home for Christmas. This, I cannot accept.

The start of second year at university has been very different to the start of my university career last year. With many restrictions in place it has been hard to see friends that I haven’t seen for six months and the mass migration of students all over the country to different places has inevitably caused a rise in cases within the younger generation. But hey ho, we’re in the midst of a pandemic – this year was going to be different anyway.

“As a nation we often look forward to Christmas in times of hardship”

Whilst many students have expressed frustration at being kept away from the normal welcome week rituals of cheap student club nights and 2am Mcdonalds, I can see where the government is coming from. But Hancock’s new plan to stop students returning home for Christmas – to prevent another mass pick up and move – is completely unacceptable in my opinion.

No matter the circumstances, Christmas is a time for family. As a nation we often look forward to Christmas in times of hardship, due to its association with positive times involving family, friends, and food. At least, in my experience, I have found myself saying in the run up to December: “Well at least it’s Christmas soon”.

University can be very stressful as a result of course deadlines, balancing academic and social life and homesickness, which we all experience every now and then. In first year, I felt the occasional bout of homesickness but this was usually reconciled by the fact that I would be home with my family for four weeks over December and January for a refresh before the new academic term began. Unfortunately, Matt Hancock thinks nearly two million of us should sit this one out this year.

I understand the thinking behind it – the government doesn’t want another mass move that could potentially spread coronavirus – but I don’t think they are thinking of the huge consequences this could have on students’ mental health and willingness to stick to the rules.

“83% of young people with pre-existing mental health conditions said in a survey that their mental health had worsened as a result of the coronavirus restrictions”

Many students already feel neglected by the government, with few words of support given to students during the first wave and harsher restrictions placed on us in the second. Inevitably this has caused greater alienation between the government and young people – which, in my opinion, leads to people flouting the rules. In the interest of public safety, I do not condone this, but you can understand the mentality.

The mental health charity, YoungMinds, found that 83% of young people with pre-existing mental health conditions said in a survey that their mental health had worsened as a result of the coronavirus restrictions. If the government restricts movement at Christmas too, I feel only more mental health issues could occur even from those who typically have not suffered with them before.

I speak from a more privileged position as I am in second year and now in a house with people I chose to live with. Imagine being a first year student paying full price for an online university course, not being able to have a freshers week and potentially meet new people, and then on top of that being told you may have to spend Christmas in halls with people you may not get on with or know very well.

I understand everyone has had to make sacrifices in the interest of public safety. Despite the media being full of stories of students and young people flouting the rules, there are still many that abide by them. Many who are having to sacrifice what we would typically count as university culture and the overall social aspect of  the university experience.

Many of us who typically see Christmas as a time to celebrate and reconnect with friends have already come to terms with the fact that we will not be at the local Wetherspoons on Christmas Eve, and that the pubs will most likely be empty when we welcome the arrival of 2021. This means returning students will most likely not have the chance to mingle with anyone but family anyway.

Christmas is about family and I feel family has been particularly important during coronavirus, with many of us isolating and being supported by family during lockdown. As previously mentioned, we have all had to make sacrifices, and many of us have rolled our eyes and followed whatever restrictions the government has thrown at us.

However, I feel if this plan goes ahead, it will be a difficult one for me to accept and in my opinion cause more harm than good. I feel restricting young people from seeing families who they have spent months locked down with would be cruel and unfair, and I cannot see many people abiding by a rule that restricts their freedom to this extent.

 

Isabelle Raikes 

Featured image courtesy of @Anthony Tran via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.