The Student lived at the dormitory at Manchester Polytechnic in 1989. She and Jenny Bradley were one of the few students to stay there over Christmas. On Christmas Day, a bored Jenny tried to convince her classmate that they should go out and find something to do, but the student didn't see the point as everywhere would be closed. A few moments later, Jenny received a visit from Rita Fairclough, who was concerned about her being alone on the festive occasion. Still blaming her for the death of Alan Bradley, Jenny gave Rita the cold shoulder.