The Story of Studying During a Pandemic by William Marsden
I recently photographed a few London-based students with the help of casting director Sue Odell (@scorpioredhair). Studying during a global pandemic must be incredibly difficult for multiple reasons. I interviewed students and asked them about their experiences during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Having studied at Camberwell College of Art, I could only imagine how hard it would have been to not be able to use the university facilities for a period of time. In recent weeks practical courses have been allowed to return to campus. With Looming degree shows, if they are allowed to go ahead. Most students will be feeling the pressure more than ever. These are some words from Corran Green, who is studying BA Knitwear at the University of Arts London.
Photo taken Feb '21 - William Arkle Marsden
Corran
“As a fashion knitwear student, my course is entirely practical based. Not only do we as knit students make fashion garments we actually construct the fabric, so not being able to use the machinery for a period of time during my course is detrimental.
I have gone through both extremes of withdrawal from people and a complete obsession with others. Bouts of very slow quiet periods and then times of manic hysteria. Journeys of self-discovery and yet questioning every principle of who I am as a person. I have been distant and lost.
There isn’t any talk of a final show, so we have nothing to look forward to and we are being told directly from government campaigns to ‘retrain ourselves’. The universities are companies, not providing the service we signed up for, the government because they deem universities as companies believe they should take it upon themselves to reimburse us. But the universities don’t have to without any government pressure. We as students are living in flats we can’t afford, leaving our homes in London to live with our families here and abroad, being sacked from our part-time jobs, and going into a world of broken businesses where we might not have a future. We are scared, uninspired, and angry.
Photo taken Feb '21 - William Arkle Marsden
Emma
Emma is currently studying for a master's in Queer History at Goldsmiths University. During the pandemic, all her learning has moved online, which has not affected her studies too badly.
“I don’t feel my mental health has been affected too badly by the lockdown since I’m a homebody anyway, but it has certainly had a massive impact on my motivation and concentration which in turn has an impact on my ability to do my uni work”.
She is currently taking part in a placement module that has been organised remotely, which I can imagine is far from ideal.
I interviewed Emma over email, the one part of her story that stood out to me was that as hospitality has been shut there are not many part job opportunities for students.
“I lost my job back in March due to it being in the hospitality industry meaning that I don’t receive any furlough and being a full-time student means that I’m not eligible for universal credit, so money is super tight. Had I known how long lockdown would last as long as it is, I think I would have given some serious thought to studying part-time so that I would be able to apply for universal credit since my student loan isn’t enough to live off and there are no jobs at the moment since everywhere is closed”.
Photo taken Feb '21 - William Arkle Marsden
Faye
Faye is currently studying at The University of Arts London. As university life returns to normal for some students, the reality of studying away from campus has affected students in different ways. Unfortunately, students studying for an art-based degree have been affected the most. Unable to access equipment to further their learning and in Faye’s case, having set up a small studio at home to get through her studies.
“In order to learn and have an industry level of understanding of knitwear, it is crucial to have access to extremely expensive machinery and facilities at university which is ultimately funded by our student fees. With no/limited access to the studios for a year now we have been limited to what we can produce at home with many students having to buy machines and tools out of their own pocket instead of having this free access, making it even more difficult for working class students on creative courses, with all of my part-time job savings and furlough pay being used on course expenses. Although our tutors and technicians are helping us as best as they can in the situation, I think we are all aware that the level of teaching and facility access is not to the usual standard and that our skills are going to be massively impacted once we graduate”.
From speaking to Faye on the day I took her portrait in a studio, I asked her if she considered deferring the year. She told me that her university made it very difficult for her to defer the year. She feels that if she had had the option to miss out this year and come back in September 2021, this would improve her studies and her job prospects.
“Overall the government has done a laughable job at handling the pandemic. For students there seems to be no recognition or hope for the struggles we are dealing with or any form of compensation for promised education we are not receiving. I can only praise organisations like Pause or Pay run by students for giving us some hope and a sense that something is being done about this seemingly hopeless situation a lot of us are in. If universities and the government are treating education as a product then I would like a refund since this extortionately priced product isn’t doing what it says on the label”.
- Words by William Arkle Marsden
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