By Jessica Bashir-Stone
At the start of the pandemic, students were told they had a choice: You go home and you stay home, or you stay at your university accommodation. Many students chose to stay put at their university accommodation, due to having better access to shopping, travel and entertainment.
Another reason students stayed is due to the sense of independence they felt when they are at halls, and feeling like they would be better off with their mental health if they were to stay.
The students who stayed in halls were put under the supervision of the hall’s management. This can be anyone from who owns and runs the accommodation to the security who look after the building.
But many gathering places have been closed off and big groups of people have been prohibited from getting together, which has put the staff in halls under immense pressure. They have regularly been receiving complaints from students, who want to be able to be social but are unable to do so, due to government restrictions.
The assistant manager of Wood Green halls of residence, Dara Olugbake, said he and other staff members have had to deal with the pressure and stress of the pandemic but have devised ways to make things better.
“I understand that students need their free time and I want to give it to them in the common areas, however government guidelines won’t let us. If I oversaw the whole area, I would open the common room but only let in six people at a time,” said Olugbake.
Along with thousands of others, many of the the staff and students at Wood Green halls have struggled with mental health issues. “I do try and help those around me as much as I can,” said Olugbake. “I’ve had university experience and I know it can get hard, but I do think the advice given depends on the person and what kind of mental state they’re in.
“I’m very hopeful that the pandemic will be over soon enough, and we can get back to normal because we all struggle! I see people breaking the rules and I get it! Its understandable but that does not make it acceptable.”
The lockdown has had a massive effect on students. In a recent survey by the Office for National Statistics, almost two thirds of students had said their mental health had gotten worse since the start of the autumn term in 2020.
Empty rooms
At Wood Green halls there are around 50 students spread across five floors. The halls can house around 150 students. Most of the empty rooms would have been occupied by exchange students and students from the north of England if it were not for the pandemic.
Many students have gone home and are staying there. This means they are paying rent for a place they aren’t able to live due to current restrictions.
One student who started her year at Wood Green Halls and since has gone home is Eleanor Russell, a 20-year-old costume design student from Bristol. “I miss my friends, and I really want to be in halls, but I can’t change the rules. I spoke to management and they said I can come back but I don’t want to mess with lockdown rules”.
Many students who went home during Christmas break have had to stay put due to the government saying that as of January students were not allowed to return to their accommodation if they were at home. “I get it, I do, but I’m paying thousands in rent to do what? Sit and wait to be allowed to go and get my stuff? I think we should be allowed our money back,” said Russell.
But Sophie Alford Beck, a 19-year-old criminology student, has been at halls the whole time. Moving into the accommodation in late September, like many others she has not had the opportunity to go and see family often.
“I actually really like the way halls have dealt with the pandemic. I feel comfortable here, and yes of course I wish they would open the common room but what can we do? I have a roof over my head, hot water and food! More than many others. I’m grateful that the management team here are even trying to do anything to help us at all.”
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