Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/556/6605
From The Socialist newspaper, 12 November 2008
'Students in the Red' day of action
 |
Cambrige students protest against indebtedness, photo A. Gounelas |
The National Union of Students (NUS) called a day of action on student debt on 12 November. Members of Socialist Students welcomed this action, the first called by NUS on student finance for two years, and campaigned for it to be as successful as possible.
Ben Robinson
In Cambridge, Lincoln, Northumbria, Canterbury and elsewhere Socialist Students fought, alongside other student activists, for the protests to be serious, to make the case for free education and to involve as many students as possible.
Unfortunately this approach was not taken up by any individual or group on the NUS national executive. Where there was no Socialist Students group campaigning for it to be a serious event, the activities organised were largely photo opportunities, with the exception of one or two areas.
The day of action will have passed by the vast majority of students, many of whom would be willing to get involved in a campaign led by the NUS if they had the opportunity and had faith in the NUS leadership.
 |
Cambrige students protest against indebtedness, photo A. Gounelas |
An indication of the priorities of the New Labour right wing of the leadership is that they got 25 student unions to pass motions in the space of a few weeks in favour of holding an extraordinary conference to continue attacks on NUS democracy, but the day of action barely involved 25 student unions, and a much smaller number of student unions mobilised for it.
The Campaign to Defeat Fees, initiated by Socialist Students, has called more successful days of action involving bigger numbers, but with fewer resources and often without the support of student unions.
Socialist Students will continue to enthusiastically partake in action called by the NUS, but will argue for a strategy of mass mobilisations to prevent increases in tuition fees, and for free education for all.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 12 November 2008:
Socialist Party campaigns
PCS union: Strike threat wins talks
Socialism 2008
Socialism 2008 - an inspiring weekend
War and occupation
Iraq, Afghanistan... End the occupations!
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
A political awakening propels Obama to victory
Why Labour won the Glenrothes by-election
Socialist Students
'Students in the Red' day of action
East Anglia region demands free education
Education
NUT leadership fails to call strike
Scotland: Victory for the Vale of Leven Four
Socialist Party review
Prescott: the class system and me
Home | The Socialist 12 November 2008 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
