Read on Twitter
Students should be (and most are) following public health guidelines - which includes not travelling home unnecessarily and not going into other people’s houses.
But Belfast City Councillors have been in bed with landlords that exploit students and this area.
But Belfast City Councillors have been in bed with landlords that exploit students and this area.
The refusal to take actual action on the sheer volume of HMOs, to improve the standards of them, and to lead on this issue allows the issue to snowball - and we get situations like this.
I see a lot of political party members and representatives with something to say - even if they are defending students to some degree.
But the area needs action. It needs representatives that don’t pander to the interests of landlords.
But the area needs action. It needs representatives that don’t pander to the interests of landlords.
But we also see a need for representatives to really represent student interests.
At the minute, Belfast ones see it as culchies coming in and represent long-term resident interests (not students). And reps from other counties see it as a Belfast issue.
At the minute, Belfast ones see it as culchies coming in and represent long-term resident interests (not students). And reps from other counties see it as a Belfast issue.
And the people who are most vocal on issues in the Holylands are no where to be seen when students are struggling with their mental health, are dealing with substandard housing, are using food banks, doing assessments on their phone & aren’t being protected in their service jobs.
Universities asked students to come to Belfast. And students became excited to get some kind of normality back.
But the Executive didn’t issue guidance to Higher Education Institutions, and did not effectively communicate to students what the new guidelines meant for them.
But the Executive didn’t issue guidance to Higher Education Institutions, and did not effectively communicate to students what the new guidelines meant for them.
@EllenFearon, President of @NUS_USI explains the need for clarity really well here - https://www.facebook.com/360539614019407/posts/4397314210341907/?vh=e&extid=j2npcnUlt8JgMOb5&d=n
I recommend many representatives familiarise themselves with student issues during COVID-19 before acting as if there is nothing they could have done.
I recommend many representatives familiarise themselves with student issues during COVID-19 before acting as if there is nothing they could have done.
I don’t mean this to excuse the behaviour we’re seeing. We all need to do our bit. I live on Uni Ave and I see what’s going on.
But plenty of people are happy to make comments when there are deeper contexts and structural issues that they refuse to deal with or acknowledge.
But plenty of people are happy to make comments when there are deeper contexts and structural issues that they refuse to deal with or acknowledge.
That’s my Hump Day Rant 
