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Hundreds of students have fled college campuses to return home, in violation of the government’s strict Covid rules.
Many flights and trains booked after the Scottish government ordered them to stay and avoid all social gatherings to address the increase in Covid cases.
The mass exodus from residence hallways across the country came as the remaining students claimed it was like being in prison, as university bosses had threatened to expel them if they did not comply.
(Image: Sunday Mail)
History Master sophomore James Yucel, 19, returned to his family’s home in Ipswich, Suffolk on Friday.
He said: “There was widespread panic on Thursday night when students learned of the new restrictions.
“It was absolute chaos with students booking flights, trains and packing. It has been so badly managed.
“My roommate is an international student from the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean who flew to Glasgow and found out the next day that all of his lectures this year will be held online.
(Image: Brochure)
“I wouldn’t have come if I had known. Like many of my friends, I went home.
“Of the 50 students that I am friends with in Glasgow, 40 of them left Glasgow and returned home.
“There was a mad rush to train stations and airports on Friday. The rules are so restrictive, why would anyone want to stay?
“We got an email from the university saying that there is a red and yellow card system which basically means if you get caught going to the pub twice, you will be expelled.
“Personally, it might not be a good idea for me to talk about it, but I think it’s a scandal. “There are many students like me, but who hesitate to speak out for fear of what the universities can do.”
Students at Murano Street Student Village, the largest residence halls at the University of Glasgow, said they were told they would be expelled from their courses if they left.
20-year-old Spanish, film and television student Louise Caie said: “I’ve been isolated from the moment I got here, so it’s been pretty scary.
(Image: Sunday Mail)
“My family is not far from Edinburgh and I wanted to go home, but I couldn’t because they told us that if we left, they would kick us out of the university course.
“It feels a bit like a prison. Our kitchen is quite small and I share it with 12 people.
“I think it’s a crazy expectation to ask us not to go out for fresh air.
“We have also seen the police circulate outside several times because they want to make sure that we don’t break any rules.
“I probably would have gone home if it weren’t for the university ordering us to stay.
“It is definitely not the student experience I would have expected. It was pretty tough. “
(Image: Sunday Mail)
Sports science student Andrew Barrett, 18, is one of eight people who tested positive for coronavirus in his 12-person apartment.
He said: “There was a girl who went home with her parents because she had coronavirus and wanted to isolate herself at home.
“I was busy studying while isolating myself.”
Another 18-year-old engineering student from Wales said: “We are not allowed to go home.
“They have threatened to kick us out for coming home or leaving the hallways. We are allowed to go smoke, but that’s it. “
(Image: Daily log)
Politics and Sociology student Alice Emlyn Jones, 19, from London said: “It has been a bit shocking. I felt really trapped at first, but now it has improved a bit.
“I know they are trying to keep people safe, but I’m not sure what impact this will have on people’s mental health.”
Approximately 1,200 students in Scotland are in isolation after the Covid outbreaks at the universities of Glasgow, Dundee, Abertay, Aberdeen and St Andrews.
Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross said: “The SNP has had years to prepare for the return of the students, but it has been one calamity after another, with ministers sending
messages throughout the store.
“We are now faced with the disastrous prospect of students losing confidence in guidance and fleeing their halls in a chaotic free-for-all, with potentially dire consequences for the spread of Covid.”
Scottish Labor leader Richard Leonard said: “Make no mistake: this disaster is the doing of the Scottish government and this dangerous exodus of students from the corridors is the result of confused guidance and government incompetence.”
(Image: PA)
Scottish Greens education spokesman Ross Greer added: “This entire episode has been a communications disaster, with both universities and the government having gone from issuing threats of disciplinary action to messages of support and reassurance almost every hour.”
Universities Scotland, which represents the country’s universities, warned students who socialize with anyone outside their home that they risk losing their place at the university.
But the University of Glasgow unveiled a series of measures they hoped would help students.
He announced a four-week rental refund for all students in college residences in recognition of the “difficult circumstances” in which they lived.
A spokesperson said: “We urge our students to abide by government rules and stay in their residences.”
The dispute comes as Scotland’s record for daily coronavirus cases was broken again, with 714 more confirmed cases.
The Scottish government also said 11.5 percent of those newly tested have been found to have the virus, the highest proportion since the figure was released.
Despite the increase, no new deaths have been recorded.
The Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area recorded the highest number of new infections, with 270, while NHS Lothian recorded 113 and Lanarkshire reported a further 91 cases.
A Scottish police spokeswoman denied additional patrols at the University of Glasgow student residences, but said surveillance had been established to interact with new and returning students.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “We appreciate that this is a particularly difficult time for students, but the faster we regain control of Covid, the sooner they can enjoy a more normal student life.
“The Scottish government will very soon produce clear guidance on the circumstances under which students can return home while the restrictions remain.”
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