'A forced curfew seems a little dystopian': Glasgow students respond to 10pm restrictions

For a classic Friday night on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street a few ingredients are needed: low temperatures, clear skies, calm winds and hundreds of university students full of the joys of a few drinks too many.

Not too long ago, this place, embellished with gothic architecture, was humming with the eclectic sounds of drum and bass from The Garage nightclub, and laced with taxi queues which reached to the bottom of the street.

On Friday a handful of people were trying to enjoy the evening, but tonight as police officers patrolled Glasgow's strip for potential arguments, ugly fights and kerfuffles, it was clear that high spirits felt both dead and gone.

Outside the music and indie bar Firewater, the lack of students queuing outside reveals grey paving stones dotted with chewing gum.

“The new rules Nicola Sturgeon has pushed are kind of stupid,” says first year University of Glasgow student, Jenijo MacFarlane who left the bar-meets-club venue before the 10pm curfew with a friend. “So you're not going to get coronavirus at 10 o’clock but you are going to get it at 12pm? I don’t get it, it’s just crazy.”

Rory Hughes, manager of a famous pub that hosts a variety of gigs, Nice N Sleazy, usually closes shop at 3am. But “this is 2020, and the type of thing we're living in at the moment," he said. "We still have a lot of students coming in at the moment who seem to have found some novelty in closing at 10pm, they are more respectful but drink so much more when our shift is coming to an end.”

Scottish universities are experiencing a high-speed soar in coronavirus cases since the city’s freshers’ week started on September 12. With an outbreak of more than 100 confirmed cases at the Murano Street student village at the University of Glasgow, students are being told to self-isolate.

On September 25, a first year student at the university who lives in residential accommodation received an email that made her heart sink and confused her even further. It outlined a new set of rules agreed by Scottish university leaders that strongly advised her to not socialise outside of her student halls, and avoid bars, pubs and other venues completely at the weekend.

But what “freaked” her out the most was the adoption of a football game yellow card and red card disciplinary system, which could lead to students losing their places if rules are broken. She didn't want to be named for for fear of disciplinary action from her university.

She managed to catch the last train at 10:40pm from Glasgow Central Station, and grab some cheesy fries with a friend who lives at home with her family. When she arrived on campus at about 11:15pm, it was populated with a myriad of quiet and half baked conversations from students who had kept their windows open.

“I do feel like we are getting punished. It's a shame for students who have been abiding by the rules. I don't really socialise with people outside of my own flat, as I'm not trying to break any rules," she said. “People in my residence have been sitting outside and socialising. But I haven't because I don't want to get in trouble. I've heard that staff in accommodation aren't too strict on socialising outside.”

Fourth year physics and astronomy student, Duncan Page, 21, from Canada, feels like he could have stayed at home and done his lectures online. He lives with his girlfriend Amelia in the west end of the city. “It’s kind of a roulette wheel in a way. No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. I don’t even know what I’m going to do for Christmas,” he says.

With just 20 minutes to go before he has to leave Innis and Gunn Brewery Taproom with friend Cameron Paterson who he stepped out to visit, Page explains how he is balancing his social life whilst standing on the popular cobbled Ashton Lane with pretty lights in the distance. “I have found ways to connect virtually with my friends. Some really enjoy playing virtual cards and video games.” He adds: “But having a forced curfew does seem a little dystopian. It offsets our entire day, we had to meet at 6pm instead.”

But for accounting and finance first year student Joe O’Dwyer, who is living in the Murano Street student village with four other students, he’s stayed indoors. “It’s the safest option for me,” he says. “I’m just relieved to have tested negative for Covid-19. I had a feeling the outbreak would happen, so I had already bought some groceries in bulk. I wear a mask in the kitchen just to be careful though and I try to keep my distance as well. It’s a very daunting experience. I’ve become quite anxious.”

From what the 18-year-old has heard, everyone is to stay indoors for at least two weeks. But if the last eight months has taught him anything, “things will have to get worse before they get better. So I’m just trying to get through it.”