Going well in the university's

Anyone who thinks the ordering of what is essentially house arrest for a small percentage of the population is a rational measure needs their head testing.

Anyone who thinks that supporting a 10pm curfew on pubs is a rational measure needs their head testing.

Anyone who didnt think at 10pm with a finite number of taxis etc that large groups of people who are mostly goodwilled wouldnt congregate need their heads testing.

 

Most of these ridiculous strategies logic only works on the assumption that there is a “solution” for the virus (a-rushed vaccine), otherwise I think we are just kicking the can down the road, very slowly and painfully until there is no economy left

 

Because you can't force those at risk of dying to isolate but you can force others to do so on their behalf

 

My 'full university experience' included using the computer labs with all the software and print services that there's no way I could afford, direct access to lecturers, the use of two TV studios, 24 hour access to professional standard video cameras and editing facilities, and the same for audio, plus the huge resource that was the library. Many students are only being offered online tuition with access to resources at best limited and often entirely restricted. And in a lot of cases, as can be seen from the OP, they're actually under house arrest. They're amounting crippling personal debt that will probably last them a lifetime for a course that isn't worth more than a few hundred quid. I fully understand Universities still have many of the same overheads that have to be met, but passing those overheads on to students, without offering the same standard of education isn't really OK. This isn't about the social aspect of being a student, which is another debate, and again something they're missing out on hugely, but about being massively overcharged for a course that isn't nearly of the same standard as what was available last September. I understand that Universities may not feel they are able to provide that same standard due to what is happening, in which case, where is the justification for charging the same amount?

 

You’re right, the people should look at these local lock downs, not as a potential solution but more as a punishment for not following the rules when they had chance. You can get your head round it then,,,, misbehave,, get punished.

 

That's a cracking system. Karen refuses to wear a mask in Tesco, Steve visits his gran and hugs her putting three people from her care home in hospital and as punishment Dave and Lisa who work in a bar lose their jobs.

 

Aren’t they forcing everyone to equally?

 

My point wasn’t to advocate lockdown, it was to ridicule.

 

Wow. I don't know where to start with that comment. You would have loved Nazi Germany or Stalin's Russia.

 

Ah sorry I didn't read it like that. Tone is sometimes hard to pick up. Apologies

 

Our best chance out of this appear to be the three million saliva tests a day they want to do alongside 1.5 million swab tests. Wake up, spit on something and check back in a little while to see if it's safe to leave the house that day.

 

Student debt is never ‘crippling’.

 

On whe whole yes. Though currently some students probably feel differently.

 

I can only speak for what's happening at my institution and specifically my course. As things stand, we're delivering lectures on-line and tutorials are at present face to face, but as the class sizes are smaller we're running more of them. With regards to online teaching this is live and students use a chat feature for questions. They're also recorded for later access. We're still running lab classes so students get the same number of lab hours, they're next semester but, depending on course attendance, we may have to run more sessions to maintain social distancing. Students can still book the high end PCs for personal use. I believe the library opening times have been reduced and the occupancy is limited. The university is still paying academic and technical staff (the main outgoings). I'm not certain that the course will be of a significantly lower standard than was offered last year and the skills learned will still be life skills they have forever. It will be different. The justification for charging the same amount is that it will cost at least the same amount to deliver the courses as they stand. If all the learning material created this year is re-used as pre-prepared videos next year and onward, your point about cost justification becomes stronger, especially if staff are made redundant and overheads are reduced. I'm not sure if you know this (you're someone I like and respect so I'm not trying to patronise) but the fees are in place to cover the gap between the government funding universities receive and the cost to deliver courses. The government funds paid to universities have been frozen for a number of years and the fees paid by students have also been capped. I'm preparing my lecture for Tuesday (start playing the violin) so I'm not going to dig out the data to prove this. I'm happy to be proven wrong or one of the other academics who post on here can point out a good source for this statement.

 

I don't have any issue believing that overheads remain the same, I said as much in my initial response, but overheads remaining the same and the quality being offered to those studying aren't necessarily the same thing. (As an aside, if you point me in the direction of a petition that states university education should be covered entirely by the government, so fees don't have to be passed on to students, then I'll sign it every day and twice on Sundays, and I'm happy for my taxes to be increased to pay for it). What you're doing at your university sounds OK, although I'd still argue it doesn't offer quite the same level of service that was enjoyed by students last year and for years before, but I do know not all Universities are adapting and accommodating nearly as much as what you've described. I'm not blaming the Universities for any of this either (although confining students to Halls with the use of security staff and the police is as shocking as it is illegal) but neither are students to blame and it's them that are getting the sh1tty end of the stick.

On a similar theme, I was talking to my niece who started high school this year. She told me 'In our PE lesson they gave us a book!' And 'I haven't used a Bunsen Burner, but we were shown a picture of one.' With the kind of world weariness, sarcasm and incredulity that belies her years.

 

Was it a heavy book?
I've spare Bunsen burners if you wanna use one.

 

Spot on this @fired, it’s got to the stage now that we avoid weekends, I love York, We go there on a regular basis but now we tend to go midweek,

 

Sage only have two modus operandi. Constantly inducing fear ( see their own published notes for further information) and locking things down.

No one was asked about the curfew and it would never have sat before Parliament as the UK is being ruled by diktat. Barring the original Corona virus act not one of the 200+ acts of guidance/law has been debated. It has all been pushed through under Public Health. Along with the dodgy tendering and the retaining of DNA/Finger prints from tests.

Remember, in Scotland Crankie has without any public consultation essentially put students under house arrest.

Hopefully, the Brady Amendment gets through. Which has come about as people believe that ministers eg Handycock have gotten too much power and their decisions are not facing proper scrutiny through Parliament as they have massive impacts on peoples lives and civil liberties.

The big hitters that remain in the Party are behind this as are people like Harriet Harman and Ian Paisley. Additionally, even though Sir Ikea has had countless free hits at Bojo and not taken them it would appear that the Labour party is going to support the amendment.

 

Just got to jump in here for a second. I came to York uni as a student in 2000 and have lived here ever since and am responsible for much of the city centre strategy and delivery of major projects. So just want to add some context.

Firstly I genuinely don't believe stag and hen dos have increased or got worse, it's just become more visible. It used to be largely contained on Micklegate, but the opening of Vodka Revs on the riverside has moved the epicentre to the main shopping street area of Coney Street where it unfortunately impacts on the family shopping environment.

Secondly, we know from all our research that people come to York because they perceive it to be a safe night out. They avoid other places where they perceive there may be trouble. That's not to say all people behave but it's an important point to note.

Thirdly, is York any different to any other major city? You go to Newcastle, West Street in Sheffield etc and all day there will be large groups drinking.

And finally, although certainly with a bit of local knowledge, you can avoid it all. Spend the day in places like Spark York, Brew York, Fossgate etc and you can have a fantastic day and night and never see a race-goer or stag do.

Generally I would say York remains one of the best places in the country to spend a weekend. We have a specific problem that we need to and are seeking to address but I don't think it is unique to York. But we are always willing to listen and learn so it's good to hear your thoughts.