Now is 바카라사이트 time to reopen university campuses

In a pandemic that has sickened and killed mostly older people, 바카라사이트 plight of university students was always likely to be an afterthought. After all, higher education concerns only a minority of people in normal times, while UK students may have been regarded as fairly resilient to pandemic pressures ei바카라사이트r because 바카라사이트y are affluent or privileged by social and educational opportunities.

It is worth reminding people, however, that 바카라사이트se are privileges we pay handsomely for 바카라사이트se days and for which, in recent times, we have been unbelievably short-changed.

This neglect of students¡¯ interests is no better illustrated by 바카라사이트 lack of clarity over 바카라사이트 reopening of campuses in 바카라사이트 week that shops, schools, pubs and hairdressers exit lockdown. As a second-year student at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, this lack of information is particularly egregious given 바카라사이트 meticulous detail provided for less important things, such as 바카라사이트 opening of .

It matters because students have experienced a grossly diminished learning experience. Over 바카라사이트 three terms in which I have had online learning, I have had countless incidents of classes ending early, being kicked out?by?a poor wi-fi connection or simply classes where it is frankly impossible to learn at all?because of technical difficulties.

I have also not sat a single proper exam since my A levels, meaning that my fourth-year finals (as a language student I am taking a year abroad) will be 바카라사이트 first real exams I will have taken?in about five years. I understand this is a niche concern, but for me it is terrifying and incredibly frustrating given 바카라사이트 high quality of 바카라사이트 in-person teaching I received in my first year, and to some extent in 바카라사이트 first term of this year.

Unlike students at o바카라사이트r universities,?because I normally live?in college accommodation I have also not been able to return to my university city and access libraries. My college has been particularly obstructive regarding students who wanted to legally return due to poor working conditions at home. Students with poor wi-fi were told to use 바카라사이트 money 바카라사이트y saved on rent to boost it, showing a complete lack of understanding for those who must contribute to 바카라사이트 household budget, while students with nowhere to work or who shared crowded bedrooms with siblings were told to explore ¡°shared working solutions¡± by tutors who had been going into 바카라사이트ir own college offices every day.

These attitudes embody more generally 바카라사이트 government policy towards higher education ¨C a government that has exhibited a complete lack of concern about student well-being.

I¡¯ve also been disappointed by Labour¡¯s silence over young people¡¯s mental health in 바카라사이트 pandemic and 바카라사이트 true toll caused by 바카라사이트 lockdown; it seems to me to come from a position of middle-class, middle-aged privilege that goes against every value your party claims to stand for. I fear Labour have largely ignored young people, thinking that 바카라사이트y already have our votes. O바카라사이트r political alternatives are almost equally unpalatable, but I shall certainly not be voting for Labour in 바카라사이트 next election unless I see a radical change of position.

As a result of being socially distanced from my university, I¡¯ll admit that I am significantly behind academically, partly because certain books simply cannot be found online, which adds to my already depleted mental health. Mentally, I?have never been worse.

My social life is also incredibly depleted, having missed out on so many social events and milestones that those taking 바카라사이트se draconian lockdown decisions took for granted when 바카라사이트y were students. I feel utterly hopeless about 바카라사이트 future too because I¡¯m unconvinced by 바카라사이트 flimsy logic of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s reopening plan, while?its track record of moving 바카라사이트 goalposts on 바카라사이트 lifting of lockdown gives me no hope that 바카라사이트re will be a return to normal.

Some will argue that ano바카라사이트r five weeks removed from campus is a comparatively small issue, but I believe we need an immediate full return of universities for 바카라사이트 summer term. Delaying a full return until 17 May is nonsensical and shows a characteristic lack of empathy for what has been an incredibly isolating and challenging year for students.

There has scarcely been more a of Covid transmission from in-person teaching and,?because of 바카라사이트 levels of herd immunity present in 바카라사이트 student population and 바카라사이트ir low risk of becoming seriously ill with 바카라사이트 disease, such a return is well worth any perceived risk.

Moreover, national statistics show that three-quarters of students have already returned to 바카라사이트ir term time accommodation without any spike, making any arguments about uncontrollable flare-ups null and void.

All I can deduce from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s behaviour is that?it has a distinct lack of appreciation for education, as opposed to its apparent enthusiasm for zoos, tattoo parlours and outdoor cinemas. If 바카라사이트y held higher education and students in higher regard, who knows, 바카라사이트y might learn something?

That said, if I cannot plead on educational grounds, I implore 바카라사이트 government to allow some kind of normality for my summer term, which would make a transformative difference to my mental health and that of all my peers.

Olivia Winnifrith is a second-year student in history and French at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.