University Suffrage?

The running of a University, in the UK, involves receiving, accommodating and teaching large numbers of people (mostly teenagers and people in their early 20s). The students travel from all over the UK, as well as from many other countries. Many of these students attend University, as much for the associated social life and 'growing into adulthood' aspects, as for the academic instruction and opening up of career prospects. Much of the accommodation and the teaching of students is done in relatively crowded conditions (as is the case with the intense socialising that tends to characterise the university 'experience'). It was known fairly early on in the Covid-19 pandemic, that young people often only had a minimal chance of dying from the viral infection and that some people (again especially the young) could be asymptomatic (they could pass on the infection whilst not appearing notably ill). Of course, there are some people (e.g. senior staff, technical support and administrators), who are hardly in their first bloom of youth (and are consequently, likely to have a worse experience with an infection by this virus up to and including death). Students tend to have complex 'webs' of connections that makes the tracking of contacts in and around the university exceedingly difficult. Universities are very dependent on student fees and on the rentals for university-provided accommodation (the latter used to be supplimented by by conference activity). It also became apparent fairly early in the pandemic that a major means of transmitting infection was via the aerosol route (via particles of infective material in the air that is breathed or coughed out by infected people). In this way, it is not too different from seasonal influenza and the common cold. Transmission occurs much more easily in enclosed, often poorly-ventilated spaces (small rooms, lecture theatres etc). It was also obvious, that late September and early October (the time when the academic year commences), would be the start of winter in the UK. At this time people are forced, by weather conditions, to spend more of their time inside (that's why seasonal influenza is seasonal). All of this has been evident for the almost 6.5 months that Covid-19 has been with us. It seems to me that a decision to start the university courses 'on time' was taken relatively early, in spite of its likelihood of aiding the spread of the virus. I am just surprised that the universities do not appear to have had stronger governmental 'steers' (and help) about what could be done to minimise disease transmission. One gets the impression that each institution has been largely left to come up with its own plan (many, in deed, seem to be striving mightily to do the best job that they can under difficult circumstances). Just a couple of observations. A few universities have testing facilities for the virus on site but this is far from universal. I think that such testing locations should have been provided for every reasonably-sized campus (or at least as close to it as possible). Many students now register attendance at lectures by swiping their bar-coded student card. Would it not have been possible to do some tracking of students by having readers in a greater number of locations (and requiring the students to swipe their cards here also). Although it might create some logistical problems, I also think that most universities should have been required to 'reserve' one hall of residence, especially for people who are required to self-isolate (even if they live in private accommodation). Students who had to use such locations could be carefully monitored, as well as being safely supplied with the necessities of life. Individual rooms could be deep cleaned between occupancies. I appreciate that this all sounds a little 'big brother' but some fairly big changes were needed to make the return to university as safe as possible. It all seems a bit ad hoc to me.