UK university students furious over virus restrictions
LONDON (AP) — As authorities sought to contain COVID-19 outbreaks at British universities Sunday, some students complained they were being “imprisoned” in their dormitories and politicians debated whether young people should be allowed to go home for Christmas.
Students at universities in Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh — who have returned to campus in the past few weeks — are being asked to self-isolate in their residence halls, with security guards at some schools preventing young people from leaving their buildings.
While students at Glasgow University greeted the lockdown with humor, posting signs asking passersby to “send beer," those in Manchester had a darker message, taping “HMP MMU” in their windows, suggesting the dormitory had become “Her Majesty's Prison Manchester Metropolitan University.”
Dominic Waddell, 21, a first-year filmmaking student at MMU, said some students didn't even receive emails informing them about the lockdown.
“There was a security guard that just arrived at the gate of our accommodation and he wasn’t letting anybody leave, not really explaining what was going on,” Waddell said. “They’re saying the safety and well-being of our students and staff and the local community is our top priority, but it doesn’t really seem like that if they haven’t allowed us time to prepare for this.”
The lockdowns come as more students headed back to campuses across the country, and some observers criticized the government's decision to reopen universities despite forecasts that this would lead to virus outbreaks. The government defended the decision, saying it had put clear guidelines in place to protect students and staff.
“Young people have paid a huge price in this crisis. I think it's only fair to try to get them back," Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the...