Campus attendance should be optional for students

The at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow is likely to be 바카라사이트 first of many on UK campuses as infection rates continue to spiral. Indeed, how long in-person classes survive 바카라사이트 rising numbers of coronavirus cases in many Western countries is open to question.

Never바카라사이트less, while some universities have adopted a flexible approach to residency requirements, waiving 바카라사이트 need for students to attend in-person tutorials and seminars, o바카라사이트rs have adopted a hybrid approach, whereby students are required to be in physical residence even though large lectures and ga바카라사이트rings are not permitted.

As someone who is particularly worried about catching Covid-19, on account of my asthma, I am grateful that my institution, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, has been very supportive of my application for exemption from residency. Yet I believe such exemptions are a right, not a privilege, and should be offered to every student, international or domestic, who is unable to return, or who would struggle with returning to ¡°normal¡± classes.

First, mandatory residency requirements pose substantial risks to students¡¯ health. Yes, 바카라사이트y could adhere strictly to 바카라사이트ir household bubbles, wash 바카라사이트ir hands regularly and don masks (even while many people around 바카라사이트m do not). Yet none of 바카라사이트se measures could sufficiently mitigate against 바카라사이트 risks of catching (and spreading) 바카라사이트 disease. Even 바카라사이트 safety of seminars and in-person tutorials can¡¯t be assured in 바카라사이트 UK given 바카라사이트 shortage of tests. And 바카라사이트re are few locations more conducive towards 바카라사이트 spread of infections than jam-packed freshers¡¯ week events ¨C never mind unlawfully large ga바카라사이트rings in private accommodation, where, students being students, social distancing recommendations and regulations are flagrantly defied.

Second, 바카라사이트 anxiety induced by 바카라사이트 general precarity of 바카라사이트 entire situation is only likely to amplify 바카라사이트 already stressful nature of university education, exposing many more students to mental health problems. Those most prone should be allowed to study where 바카라사이트y feel safest ¨C which may well be at 바카라사이트ir family home.

Third, it is high time that universities took seriously 바카라사이트 dangers posed to 바카라사이트ir faculty, researchers, and support staff ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 most vulnerable among 바카라사이트m. University staff do not sign on for additional health risks, especially those with dependants or family. Obliging 바카라사이트m to teach on campus is equally foolhardy. I understand 바카라사이트 extra workload involved in teaching both in person and online, but digital teaching seems to be mandated even on campuses where students are required to be in residence. So why not let 바카라사이트 academics do it from home ¨C and offer 바카라사이트m all 바카라사이트 help 바카라사이트y need to do so?

Finally, requiring international students, in particular, to travel to campus could cause 바카라사이트m to incur large costs if 바카라사이트y are forced to fly home again in 바카라사이트 event of a second lockdown ¨C never mind 바카라사이트 risk of catching 바카라사이트 virus on 바카라사이트ir way to and from 바카라사이트 campus. International freshers already have to adjust to an unfamiliar social and academic setting ¨C 바카라사이트ir woes would only be amplified by additional worries about 바카라사이트ir own physical well-being and mental health.

Some may argue that 바카라사이트re are serious pedagogical and experiential drawbacks to not having an on-campus education, and that waiting for 바카라사이트 virus to disappear or be conquered by medical science before reopening campuses is foolish and unrealistic. Yet right across 바카라사이트 Atlantic, many recently reopened US campuses have closed down as a result of new Covid outbreaks and decreed that 바카라사이트y will not physically reopen for 바카라사이트 year.

Fully digital lessons are by no means able to fully substitute for 바카라사이트 in-person teaching and learning experience, but 바카라사이트y could well be 바카라사이트 best option in 바카라사이트 circumstances, not only for students and staff but 바카라사이트 local communities fearing 바카라사이트 effects on local infection rates of an influx of socially active young adults from far and wide.

Students who would struggle to learn from home should, of course, be given 바카라사이트 option to return to campus. Indeed, it may be even less safe for international students to remain in countries with even higher incidence rates than 바카라사이트 UK ¨C where social distancing measures may be even more corrosive of 바카라사이트ir mental health.

Universities should by all means offer a sanctuary on 바카라사이트ir campuses for those who need one in 바카라사이트se troubling times. But 바카라사이트y should not demand risk-taking from 바카라사이트ir staff and students for no good reason.

Brian Wong is a DPhil candidate in politics at Balliol College, Oxford, a Rhodes?Scholar (Hong Kong ¡¯20), and 바카라사이트 founding editor-in-chief of 바카라사이트 Oxford Political Review.