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An isolation student in Nottingham received bread, jam and an apple for breakfast
Universities face the ire of students for the conditions some have faced while isolating themselves on campus.
Students have criticized the cost and quality of food provided by universities while in isolation.
College students say that food packages have often been filled with “garbage,” meaning they have had to request fresh fruits and vegetables from parents.
The institutions said they were working hard to provide supplies to students.
People who are asked to self-isolate due to the coronavirus must stay home for at least 10 days under the rules punishable by fines.
Universities UK has published a guide on best practices to support students who need to isolate themselves.
‘Expensive prison’
First-year economics and politics student Tess Bailie, 18, started a social media campaign after learning of the poor conditions for those found isolated on her campus.
Out-of-date food and a lack of catering services for religious and dietary requirements are among the complaints at the University of Edinburgh’s Pollock Halls, dubbed “the most expensive prison in the UK”.
“Students say the only thing that saved them was the fact that half of them have Covid and they can’t taste it anyway,” Bailie said, referring to a common Covid-19 symptom.
The University of Edinburgh admitted that there had been “few occasions when the needs of the students were not met”. But he said these were quickly addressed and work is underway to improve their systems.
In a statement, the university said: “Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority.
“We have teams of staff working 24 hours a day to provide self-isolating in our self-catering and self-catering residences three meals a day, including ready-to-heat, based on their dietary requirements and preferences. Essential items are also delivered on request. “
At York University, students have the option of a £ 70 lunch deal offering a sandwich, fries, chocolate bar and water for each day they are in self-isolation. For three meals a day, students pay £ 170 for the isolation period.
While the university said the food was freshly made, Claire Baseley, a registered nutritionist, said a daily sandwich is unlikely to provide adequate nutrition for self-isolates.
“It is important that people get a variety of vitamins and minerals to support their immune systems,” he said.
‘Send vegetables’
A freshman psychology student at the University of Birmingham said that she and her flatmates must now spend their weekly catering allowance on boxes of food that include Pot Noodles and frozen ready meals.
They received an initial box at no charge as soon as they reported self-isolation, but future supplies are uncertain and will cost £ 28 per person for six days.
Students in Birmingham received a free box full of essentials, but now must pay £ 28 each for similar supplies
She said: “We don’t know if that’s enough food for our isolation period in terms of missing fresh food and vegetables. It’s a lot like frozen stuff there.
“We don’t know what will be in the next box, but due to the [first box] People from my flat have contacted my house and asked them to send them things like vegetables. “
While online teaching has worked well, there is a shortage of things like toilet paper and a £ 30 charge to wash 7kg of clothes has dropped a lot for many students, he added.
The University of Birmingham said its starter food boxes were designed to last two to three days and include prepared meals cooked by in-house chefs, which are designed to be nutritious. He said student survey responses were “very positive” and that laundry service is offered at a discount by a local dry cleaning company.
French fries for breakfast
At the University of Nottingham, a history student said the university should have been more prepared for possible cases, and that students had to isolate themselves, after problems with food supplies took a week to resolve.
The teenager is in staffed hallways with breakfast and dinner generally provided and £ 25 for lunches each week, but has been isolating herself after testing positive for coronavirus.
Meals have been provided, but she said some days no lunches were brought. And one day, her breakfast consisted of chips, a chocolate bar, an apple, and a juice box, while the person in a neighboring room ate bread, butter, and jam.
“It was really bad,” he said. “They kept wasting days. I tried calling too, but no one answered.”
Things have improved in recent days, he added.
A spokesman for the University of Nottingham said it apologized to a small number of students in the hallways who had had problems with their catering service and were working on a new process.
They said, “Our staff has been working hard to support our students who isolate themselves, along with their homes, in accordance with public health guidelines.
“We recognize how difficult this will be for all of our affected students, many of whom are away from home for the first time, and we appreciate your cooperation in following the rules, doing the right thing, and helping contain the virus.”
An 18-year-old who recently founded Durham University and told him not to come into contact with anyone else said that the food boxes were full of “junk food and a lot of dry food.”
“I went to bed with stomach pains because I’m hungry. My throat hurts and it dehydrates me,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
Durham Vice Chancellor Jeremy Cook said he apologized to the students who felt they had not been given enough or healthy food. “But we have acted quickly, we have listened to our students and we have recognized their concerns.”
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition accusing Lancaster University of “profiting” from self-isolating students with food deliveries, while the University of East Anglia cut the cost of its food supplies after a backlash .
Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, vice president for higher education at the National Student Union, said students were viewed as “pounds, not people” and that universities must remember their “duty of care” towards them.
