University students will not have the typical university experience this year, Ingrid Cox reports.
With local lockdowns being introduced at universities in Glasgow and Manchester, first-year students across the country can expect a very different fresher’s experience this year.
Fresher’s week is usually seen as an opportunity for students to get acquainted with new friends and experience newfound freedom away from home and their parents. This poses a growing concern amongst students as face-to-face contact is no longer an option and has been replaced by virtual introductions.
However, some students and universities are keeping an optimistic approach and express that there is no need to panic. Universities are working closely with student unions to organize fun, Covid-conscious events that will bring a sense of ‘normality’ to first-year students.
Club nights are out but virtual escape rooms are in for students this autumn. While some universities are still holding in-person events, the experience is likely to be a more toned-down affair, with open-air cinemas and outdoor food festivals replacing boozy club nights.
Some universities, including the University of Bath, are using this new model of fresher’s week to veer away students from a traditional alcohol-focused version of events. At the University of Bath, digital fresher’s events include events such as virtual escape rooms, virtual comedy nights, and outdoor meditation classes. While organizers are hopeful these events will help boost the student experience and their mental health, some argue that the novelty will wear off as students grow a hunger for real-life interaction and socializing.
