Feiza and Paul, 22, enjoy their tray of coleslaw, seated on two separate tables at restaurant U at the University of Cergy (Val-d'Oise).
The menu for this Monday is not folichon, but the two students have the banana.
“It's the first time we've been back to college since October.
It was not necessarily the good little dishes from Crous that we had missed the most, but it was still part of the fun, ”summarizes Paul.
Who, swallowing a fork of carrots-celery-mayo, stares at the front door of the hall which opens at a regular pace.
“It's weird to see people… I love it!
"
Since this week, the 2.7 million students have the right to return to the benches of the university at a rate of up to 20% of the numbers on campus, or one day in five.
The progressive “face-to-face” is one of the government's promises to try to stem the distress of young people.
A recent Ipsos study shows that 40% of 18-24 year olds report generalized anxiety disorder, nine points more than the general population!
A mental state in tatters generated, in particular, by courses in 100% distance since October.
So inevitably, a university which pulsates again puts balm in the heart.
"To say hello in person"
“I finally feel like I'm talking to humans, and not to a robot,” says Maëlle, 21, a master's student in private law.
The young woman came to work with two friends, Chiara and Elisa, around… a McDonald's.
"The isolation has become unbearable: I live alone in a small apartment because my family is not in the Paris region," explains Elisa.
The 6-hour days in front of a screen, without a friend to talk to, I can't take it anymore!
Beside her, Chiara smiles under her mask.
She enjoys "a return to normal life".
"Already, just putting on jeans to go to class in the morning, the little rituals to prepare myself ... it made me really happy", explains, delighted, the lawyer.
Same story on the forecourt, where Tina and Maxime smoke a cigarette.
"I'm happy just to watch people come and go between classrooms," laughs the young man.
“We rediscovered our youthful reflexes: to say hello in real life, to wonder how are you, loves, the last series that we appreciate.
Well, we can't kiss each other yet or end up at the bar… but it will come, ”Tina laughs.
“It's beautiful, a university that comes back to life!”, Continues Maxime.
End of smoking, direction the refectory, which reopened its doors this week.
A decision by Frédérique Vidal to allow students to eat their meal there for 1 euro - another government decision aimed at students - "other than outside or four in a car", had justified the Minister of Education superior.
VIDEO. Meal at 1 euro, "psy check", face-to-face lessons ... Macron's announcements for students
In the main building, 22-year-old Dounia is heating up a pasta dish in the shared microwave.
“I have a child of a year and a half, so home lessons are not possible!
Even if my mother gave me a hand, I almost dropped out, ”she explains, delighted to be able to“ connect in real life ”to her lessons and teachers again.
The gauge puzzle
As for the teachers, precisely, it is "the great relief", confirms Aziz, who teaches literature and English translation.
“Psychologically, I'm better this week.
At the end of my day, I'm tired from working hours, but not depressed!
When I spent hours in front of the screen talking to black boxes, I ended up dejected, ”he analyzes.
And the maximum level of 20% of students gives him confidence in the sanitary conditions.
“With such a small number of students, we can use the lecture halls to teach tutorials for around thirty students.
It's comfortable.
And I am more reassured than when I do my shopping at Auchan.
"
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Guillaume Gellé, co-president of the conference of university presidents (CPU), confirms "the success" of this return of young people ... even if the 20% gauge is a puzzle.
“We have to review all the timetables, assess the capacities of each room, each amphitheater which, I remind you, must only be occupied at 50% of their maximum capacity.
To this must be added the total gauge on the campus of 20% of the students, ”explains the spokesperson for the CPU.
But it's worth it: "If we can hold on like this until the end of the year, we will have saved the semester!"
"