This week sees the return of indoor mixing as bars, restaurants, cafes and pubs reopen their doors for the first time in a long time. Museums, art galleries and cafes can also now reopen to the public.
So it seems understandable that some Leeds students are wondering why they can't go to university for in-person learning, but they can go and sit in the pub.
A group of students at Leeds University have started a petition demanding "a complete return to in-person teaching for University of Leeds students."
Students also want to see the current "blended learning approach" - confirmed as policy by the University just this week - be dropped immediately.
The current blended learning approach sees small group learning situations, like seminars, tutorials and practicals, continue face-to-face whilst larger gatherings, such as lectures with over 50 students, will continue to be hosted remotely.
Leeds student protest
The University insists on its website: "your health, safety and wellbeing is our top priority and we will continue to review our plans and implement any changes, in line with government guidance, as quickly as possible."
However, students - such as Will Huddie, who set up the online petition - feel angry and ignored.
He told student paper The Tab that he "felt extremely angry and frustrated at their [the university's] decisions."
"I know LLU is separate from the university but the thing is that if clubs and other mass gatherings are allowed to go ahead, then why not a lecture theatre with 250 people."
So, Will set up an online petition and created an open letter template to help students make their voices heard.
After all, it doesn't make much sense that the Student Union club night Fruity's is back hosting five events in June, but the the University still claims to be unable to hold in-person lectures or exams next year.
Others have pointed out that the decision adversely affects those with learning disabilities and asked why their tuition fees are so high when remote learning is now the norm.
Public Technology
At the time of writing, the petition has gathered over 2,500 signatures.
The Change,org petition reads: "It has come to our attention as students that the University of Leeds plans to continue with a blended teaching approach for the coming academic year 2021/2022.
"It is our opinion that this approach is unacceptable, considering the quality of teaching and assessment that is expected at a university of such a high standard.
"The University should emphatically not be planning for a blended teaching approach, considering the freedoms that will be allowed in other parts of society come the start of the next academic year.
"Instead, the University should, considering the advice of the UK Government and UK Chief Medical Officers, be planning for a return to complete normality in terms of teaching. A blended teaching approach should be a last resort in the event that the UK’s return to normality is delayed.
"Online teaching is in no way a substitute for in-person learning and it is ridiculous that the University would expect us to agree with or even accept their decision on teaching for the next academic year.
"We welcome discussion with the University over this issue, but our aim is clear: Normality must return in all areas of society, and most importantly we demand a complete return to in-person teaching for all students at the University of Leeds."
Feature image - WikiCommons.
Leeds
No Greek Tragedy, just indie bangers – The Wombats set Leeds’ First Direct Arena alight
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky
Danny Jones
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
Georgina Pellant -
18th May 2021 
