A plea from a stressed, overworked and tired Student Union President:

Let& #39;s not blame students for the inevitable spike in cases when they are just doing exactly as they have been told to do by their Government - come back to Uni, in person, this September https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤷‍♀️" title="Achselzuckende Frau" aria-label="Emoji: Achselzuckende Frau">

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The Government have known for months that come September over a million students, new & returning, would be moving across the UK..

This & #39;migration& #39; (as I& #39;ve heard it refered to - not that I agree with that termhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙅‍♀️" title="Frau gestikuliert „Nicht OK“" aria-label="Emoji: Frau gestikuliert „Nicht OK“">) happens EVERY September, it& #39;s not a new thing.

(/1)

Stating now, in the 11th hour, that the Gov has concerns about students being back on campus and the effect on infection levels is all very well and good...

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="‼️" title="Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen"> But this is a predictable event! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="‼️" title="Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen"> We needed this months ago! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="‼️" title="Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen">

(/2)

If Ministers had taken a moment to consider this mass movement of young people, they would& #39;ve seen the issue.

Because I can tell you that Universities and SU& #39;s had already reached that realisation months ago

An idea: maybe student representatives could have helped here?https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">

(/3)

Universities and Student Union& #39;s have been working non-stop for months to create an exciting, fun and COVID-safe new Academic Year...

Because we did not have another option.

We had no Government guidance - it was just a case of suck it up, get planning, and get on with it

(/4)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="‼️" title="Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen"> It is not a University or a Student Union& #39;s job to control the spread of a deadly virus https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="‼️" title="Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen">

We are specialists in education & research, representation & the student experience.

We can share messaging and advice for students, but controlling the spread of a virus? No.

(/5)

Students cannot NOW be the scapegoat for doing exactly what they have been advised, from Universities doing the only thing that they can:

Re-open https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚪" title="Tür" aria-label="Emoji: Tür"> students back to campus https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔙" title=""Back" mit nach links zeigendem Pfeil darüber" aria-label="Emoji: "Back" mit nach links zeigendem Pfeil darüber"> back to & #39;normal& #39; https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎓" title="Doktorhut" aria-label="Emoji: Doktorhut">

Do not blame them for following the rules.

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