Furious students united to demolish’ lockdown ‘fences erected around university halls without warning on the country’s first night of lockdown
Hundreds of students demonstrated Thursday night on Manchester’s Fallowfield campus, including Owens Park and Unsworth Park, claiming the move made them feel like « prisoners »
The university said the barriers were erected as a « safety measure » to « help avoid the mixing of households » and « keep everyone safe, » but the students said they were only informed of the fence after it was installed
Students who woke up to find themselves ‘locked in’ called the move ‘shameful’ They said it came at a time when many are already suffering from mental health issues and insufficient support is available. has not been set up
The university later apologized saying it did not intend to cause « concern or distress » and that the fences would be removed on Friday
Videos showed students singing protests with flickering guns and signs, before a group knocked down the barriers, prompting the crowd to rejoice
Joe Hindley, 19, a freshman math student, said: “We just got really frustrated It’s like a kick in the ball There is no advantage we can see for them
« They said something about it, increasing our security, but from what we can see, it’s a total waste of money »
A student, who was shocked to find fencing while walking around campus, posted a video on Twitter telling the university he had committed a « shameful act »
Hi @OfficialUoM, how do you think it is okay to put fences around our campus, our home that we should feel safe in, especially after someone has committed suicide here? & didn’t even email us to inform us of such a shameful act @TheSun @DailyMailUK @BBCNews picTwittercom / VrpuFHUf00
She wrote: « How do you think it is okay to put fences around our campus, our house where we should feel safe? »
The university responded on Twitter saying that all students should have received an email informing them of the measure
The student replied: « None of us received an email Communication from you is extremely poor
« Putting up fences that make us feel like prisoners without any prior communication attempt will only create undue stress among residents who are already suffering »
Fences have been installed outside campus, with security checks at the entrance and between blocks
They did not prevent students from entering or leaving the campus, but they blocked the passage between the different blocks of the room
Ben McGowan, 18, a freshman in politics and sociology, said students had reached ‘boiling point’ and he was disappointed with the way the university has handled the pandemic
He said the protest was the result of a buildup of frustration built up since they arrived in September, with students facing lockdowns and restrictions, with fines for some breaking the rules
« I think there was a boiling point when they erected these fences, » he said « It was a last breaking point for most of the students »
M McGowan said he was unimpressed with the apology and was « far too late », adding: « It showed how poorly thought out it was »
In an email received by the students shortly before 8 on Thursday 30 hours, the president and vice-chancellor of the university apologized for causing « worry and distress » by erecting the fences
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: « It was not our intention – in fact quite the contrary
“The fence was intended as a response to a number of concerns expressed in recent weeks by staff and students regarding safety and security; particularly on access for people who are not residents
« We never intended to prevent you or other residents of our halls from entering or leaving the site »
She added that the fences would be removed on Friday and that alternative measures « including additional security patrols » would be introduced instead
Student, University of Manchester
News from around the world – UK – Students demolish interlocking fences placed outside hallways ‘without warning’
