On the 17th of March 2020, an email was received by all students studying at York St John University, announcing the movement of an early Easter break and the decision to suspend face to face teaching until September, due to the global pandemic.
Attending a lecture at the time of receiving this information, the atmosphere was surreal. There was so much anxiety in the room, so many unanswered questions and questions which didn’t have answers. Many of us had predicted this would happen after following the latest on the Coronavirus pandemic, however, somehow it still took us by surprise.
I spoke to Leah Thompson, a first year student studying Children, Young People and Families who said: “We’re having to pay rent for houses we aren’t even living in, as well as not being able to work to earn the money to pay this rent.”
The student’s union presidents have been campaigning and writing to the City of York Council to try and contact private landlords and ask them to consider at least a deduction of payment. Thankfully, the university has cooperated well with the students who have been living in halls of residence, allowing them to not pay the last instalment of rent as long as their property is vacated and the keys have been handed back.
Nationally, there has been an overall feeling that university students have been forgotten about. Leah thinks: “In reality we’re possibly the most stressed and mentally affected.” Some deadlines for assignments have been extended and a safety net has been put in place, but in comparison to GCSE and A Level students who have had all their exams cancelled, it seems very difficult for university students. Leah added: “Students in high schools and colleges have been considered academically and emotionally, where I feel like I’ve just been disregarded.”