Bristol Student Union officer team statement on the National Lockdown
The University of Bristol’s Student Union officer team released a statement at Lunch time today concerning the upcoming National Lockdown. It is nothing short of a scathing criticism of the current government and Boris Johnson himself. ‘The government's decision to allow universities to continue all on-campus teaching during a national lockdown is indicative of their lack of clear leadership during this pandemic’. Going on to say that ‘it seems wrong on both an educational and public health level to continue on-campus teaching during a lockdown’. As a result, they are calling ‘on the University to show the leadership themselves and move all non-essential in-person teaching online for the rest of TB1’.
With calls to move in-person teaching online, they are requesting that the university should also:
Lobby the Government through UUK to allow students who have completed 2 weeks of isolation to return home before Christmas. The two weeks of isolation is necessary to mitigate the government's concerns of students returning home, but students should not be kept on campuses if they can do their learning online and wish to do so.
Allow students in halls no-penalty contract releases from their accommodation so that they can choose to move home.
Continue to support students in halls with free food boxes, regular mental health check-ins, and other essentials.
Give students who choose to stay in halls a 30% rent reduction for TB1.
Keep libraries and study spaces open for students who remain in Bristol. Libraries offer safe and secure spaces for students who may otherwise struggle to access their studies online so should be prioritised.
Publicise the financial hardship funds students can apply to due to the financial difficulties of entering another lockdown.
The team have said that ‘this position is informed by weeks of consultation with students and staff’. Another conclusion they have reached is that ‘TB1 has not turned out the way it was sold to students over summer, and the SU will be lobbying for tuition fee reductions on a local and national level’.
EDITORIAL OPINION
It seems somewhat hypocritical of the SU officer team to call for a complete move to online teaching and yet insist that libraries and study spaces remain open for students. Considering that students are at the lowest risk of coronavirus fatality, it strikes me as a sensible decision for the government to keep universities open while restricting students’ access to the general public and those at risk. That said, the SU lobbying for tuition fee reductions is an important initiative and one that I am in full support of.
Written by Sam Bradby